unload

verb

ˌən-ˈlōd How to pronounce unload (audio)
Definition of unloadnext
1
as in to unpack
to empty or rid of cargo the dockworkers unloaded the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dump
to get rid of as useless or unwanted I can't seem to unload this old car—even the charities won't take it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unload The storm comes after the Plains and Midwest regions experienced blizzard-like conditions from a massive storm that marched across the country earlier this week, unloading a barrage of dangerous weather and leading to at least five deaths. — Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025 Children dressed in camouflage help parents unload furry bodies, unfazed by the mangled, dripping corpses. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 Less than ten minutes later, at that same rally, gunfire rang out and a sick and deranged assassin unloaded eight bullets from his sniper's perch into a crowd of many thousands of people. — NPR, 5 Mar. 2025 The platform’s remote control functionality also plays a role here, allowing for easier loading and unloading up and down ramps for transportation. 5. — Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unload
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unload
  1. unpack
  2. dump
  3. evacuate
  4. discard
  5. discharge
  6. ditch
  7. lose
  8. unburden
Verb
  • That makes packing and unpacking so much less stressful.
    — Robin Raven, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Editor’s Note: Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of unpack
Verb
  • The big picture: California's rainy season, which roughly spans from November to early April, is marked by the prevalence of atmospheric rivers, characterized as highways of concentrated water vapor that travel across the Pacific Ocean which dump heavy snow or rain on land.
    — Nadia Lopez, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The smaller virtual star lived for 12.2 million years before dying in an explosive supernova, dumping about 0.051 solar masses of oxygen (nearly 17,000 Earth masses) into its surrounding space.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of dump
Verb
  • Many others, including Tara Lipinski, Chrissy Teigen, Britney Spears and more shared that they were evacuated as the fire spread.
    — Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • About 190 children were evacuated during the Biden administration.
    — Susan Page, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of evacuate
Verb
  • It could have been discarded as a worthwhile punt that just did not work out, but the scrutiny on the transfer increased when Kai Havertz sustained a season-ending hamstring tear in February.
    — Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Employees had to discard taquitos and hot dog bites that were stored in a broken refrigerator.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of discard
Verb
  • And, the Pentagon plans to discharge transgender military members and recruits.
    — CNN, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Before his arrest, he was discharged from military officer cadet training school in Virginia for psychological reasons, Stuart said.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of discharge
Verb
  • Eight years later, Democrats have devolved into nostrums about appealing to the middle class, ditching academic language, and finding a uniting message.
    — Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
  • After class, ditch the grip socks and turn it into a look with your favorite cardigan or leather jacket.
    — Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of ditch
Verb
  • The Packers also lost defensive tackle T.J Slaton to Cincinnati, won't make a run at center Josh Myers and will cut or trade cornerback Jaire Alexander — possibly before the new league year arrives Wednesday afternoon.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Dončić scored 34 points in a losing effort, while Boston’s Jayson Tatum led all comers with 40 points.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of lose
Verb
  • Here at last Richard unburdens himself, telling Reacher that the Becks’ lives are not their own.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Delegating should not be used as a way to unburden yourself of menial, grunt work.
    — Terina Allen, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Definition of unburden

Browse Nearby Words

unload
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unload.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unload. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on unload

Nglish: Translation of unload for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All