WordGarden.iounzip
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnzˈɪp/
US
- /ənˈzɪp/
Meanings
Verb
to open, loosen, or remove by undoing a zipper
to extract the contents of a compressed digital file or folder
Beyond the definition
You probably know "zip" as what you do when you close a jacket or bag, so "unzip" means opening it again. It is used for things with a zipper, like a coat, backpack, or pouch. In the digital world, "unzip" also means opening a compressed file or folder so you can use what is inside. In both cases, the idea is simple: something closed or packed is opened.
To unzip something literally means to open a zipped fastener, such as the one on your jacket or backpack. It is the action that reverses the process of zipping—releasing the interlocking teeth to create an opening. For example: "She unzipped her coat as she came inside."
However, "unzip" has taken on a second life in the digital age. When you download a file from the internet, it often arrives compressed, meaning it has been made smaller for easier transfer. To access the contents of that file, you need to "unzip" it, which expands the data back to its original size. Example: "I had to unzip the downloaded folder before I could view the photos."
These two uses cover almost all common cases. In everyday speech, people most often use the word for clothing, bags, tents, and similar objects with zippers, or for computer files such as ZIP folders. The shared idea is opening something that was closed or packed tightly.
So, whether you're opening a jacket or accessing the contents of a downloaded folder, "unzip" is about making something closed accessible again.
Examples
- 1
Clothing
He unzipped his jacket as soon as he got inside.
- 2
Camping
She unzipped the tent door and stepped out into the morning sun.
- 3
Accidental opening
My suitcase unzipped in the taxi, and my clothes spilled everywhere.
- 4
Compressed files
Download the file and unzip it before you open the photos.
- Domainunzip a file
open a compressed file so you can use what is inside
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- unzipverb
Forms
- unzippedpast tenseverb
- unzipsverb
- unzipping-ing formverb