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unpin

B2
Rare

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ʌnpˈɪn/

US

  • /ʌnpˈɪn/

Meanings

Verb

  1. to remove a pin or fastening pin from something

  2. to remove an item from a pinned position in an app or interface

Beyond the definition

To unpin something means to remove the pin or setting that is holding it in place. Imagine a note pinned to a board: to unpin it is to take it down from that fixed spot. This idea is also very common in digital life, where you can unpin a message from the top of a chat or remove a shortcut from a pinned place on a screen. If you have pinned pieces of fabric together for sewing, to unpin them is to take the pins out so the cloth can move again. In each case, the basic idea is the same: something is no longer held in a special or fixed position.

Examples

  1. 1

    Name tag

    She carefully unpinned the name tag from her jacket.

  2. 2

    Noticeboard

    He unpinned the photo from the noticeboard and put it in his bag.

  3. 3

    Digital messages

    If you unpin the message, it won't stay at the top of the chat.

    • Phrasepin a message

      keep it at the top so it is easy to find

  4. 4

    Taskbar

    I unpinned the app from my taskbar because I hardly ever use it.

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • unpin a brooch
  • unpin a note
  • unpin from a board

Word family

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Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • unpinverb

Forms

  • unpinnedpast tenseverb
  • unpinning-ing formverb
  • unpinsverb