WordGarden.iounhook
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnhˈʊk/
US
- /ənˈhʊk/
Meanings
Verb
to detach something from a hook or undo a hooked connection
to free someone or something from an attachment, hold, or dependency
to disconnect or remove a software hook or linked component from a system
Beyond the definition
To unhook something means to take it off a hook, clasp, or other point of attachment. You might unhook a coat from a hanger, a trailer from a truck, or a fish from a line. The idea is simple: something was attached, and then someone deliberately released it.
The word is mostly used for physical things, but it can also be used in a more figurative way. A person might try to unhook themselves from a bad habit or from a pattern of worry. Even then, the picture stays the same: a connection is being loosened so something can be free.
The word "unhook" describes the act of removing something from a hook or of disconnecting it from whatever is holding it in place. It usually suggests a clear, deliberate action rather than something coming loose by accident. For example, you might unhook a necklace, unhook a trailer from a car, or unhook a fish from a fishing line.
In everyday English, the word is most often used for physical things. It fits situations where one object is attached to another and then released. A bag can be unhooked from a chair, a gate can be unhooked from its latch, and a boat can be unhooked from the line that holds it. In each case, the basic idea is the same: the connection is removed so the object can move freely or be used in a different way.
"Unhook" can also appear in figurative writing or speech. Someone may talk about unhooking themselves from fear, guilt, or a harmful habit. This use is less literal, but the image still works well. It suggests pulling free from something that has been holding you in place.
The strength of the word comes from that clear picture of release. Something is attached, then someone lifts it away, loosens it, or frees it. If you keep that image in mind, the meaning of "unhook" is easy to follow in both literal and figurative use.
Examples
- 1
Pet leash
She unhooked the dog's leash from the gate and let him run in the yard.
- 2
Jewelry
Can you unhook my necklace? I can't reach the clasp.
- 3
Vehicle towing
They pulled over to unhook the trailer from the truck.
- Patternunhook X from Y
remove X from where it is attached
- 4
Medical device
The nurse unhooked him from the monitor before he left the hospital.
- Patternunhook someone from + device
disconnect them from it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Work boundaries
It took me two days to unhook myself from work email during the holiday.
- Patternunhook yourself from + obligation
stop feeling tied to it or controlled by it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- unhookverb
Forms
- unhookedpast tenseverb
- unhooking-ing formverb
- unhooksverb