Unraveled
/ʌnˈrævəld/
verbB2past tense
Definition
Unraveled means to pull apart threads or pieces that are twisted or joined together. It can be used for physical things like cloth or string, or for abstract things like problems or mysteries, meaning to solve or explain them by taking them step by step.
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See It in Action
To undo threads or fibers that are twisted or woven
- •The old scarf unraveled after many washes.
- •She accidentally unraveled the sweater while knitting.
- •The rope slowly unraveled as it got old and weak.
To solve or explain something complicated or confusing
- •The scientist unraveled the mystery behind the strange disease.
- •The story slowly unraveled, revealing the hidden truth.
- •Police worked hard to unravel the details of the crime.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'unraveled' like 'opened' but for things that are twisted or tangled, like a ball of yarn.
- ✓Picture a sweater with loose threads coming apart, slowly falling apart as you pull the threads.
- ✓It's the feeling when you finally understand a difficult puzzle or secret after working carefully.
- ✓Sounds like 'un-RAVEL-ed' → imagine a ball of yarn that is tangled (ravel) being pulled apart to become straight and simple.
- ✓Imagine a detective story where the mystery is unraveled piece by piece until the truth is clear.
- ✓NOT like 'tied' or 'knotted' (joined tightly) — unraveled means the opposite, things come apart.
- ✓NOT like 'solved' (only the answer) — unraveled shows the process of taking apart or explaining something complicated.
- ✓NOT like 'broken' (damaged without order) — unraveled is more like carefully undoing or understanding.
Try Other Words
- •Solved: found the answer or explanation (Use when focusing on the result of understanding a problem)
- •Untangled: made something twisted become straight (Use when focusing on physical or metaphorical things that are twisted or messy)
- •Disentangled: removed knots or confusion (Use when something is physically or mentally separated from a complicated state)
- •Decoded: understood a hidden meaning (Use when talking about understanding secret or difficult information)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "un-" (reverse action) + root "ravel" (to tangle or twist) + suffix "-ed" (past tense)
- •Etymology: "Ravel" comes from Middle English, meaning to tangle or knot; "unravel" means to undo that tangle
- •Historical development: Originally used for threads and fabrics, later extended to explain solving mysteries or problems
- •Modern usage: Used both for physical undoing of threads and for understanding or explaining complex things
- •Key insight: The word shows a process of taking something complicated or tangled and making it simple or clear again
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you unraveled a difficult problem or question? How did you feel afterward?
•How is the idea of "unraveling" different when talking about physical things versus ideas or stories?
Fill in the blanks
1.The old sweater unraveled because its threads were too ___ and worn out.
2.The detective unraveled the mystery by carefully collecting ___ and clues.
3.When a story is unraveled, the hidden ___ become clear to the reader.
4.She unraveled the knot in the rope slowly so it wouldn't ___.
5.Unlike "tied," unraveled means the threads or connections are ___.
6.Scientists work hard to unravel complex problems that are hard to ___.
7.The yarn unraveled quickly when he pulled the loose ___ too hard.