Meaning & use
unbolted
Last updated
“unbolted” is a form of “unbolt”.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Past tense and past participle of unbolt: opened a door, gate, or window by sliding back its metal bar.
Grammar: Used as the past form of 'unbolt'; it takes an object, as in 'She unbolted the door.'
Patterns
- unbolted something
He unbolted the heavy door and let us into the barn.
The gate had been unbolted from the inside, so anyone could have walked in.
She unbolted the shutters and sunlight poured into the room.
adjectivenot comparable
Not fastened with a bolt; (of a door, gate, etc.) not locked in place with a sliding metal bar.
Grammar: Describes a state; it usually comes after a linking verb such as 'be' or 'remain'.
Patterns
- be unbolted
- leave something unbolted
Make sure the back gate is unbolted before the delivery arrives.
The door stood unbolted all night, which made the family nervous.
Common combinations
- leave the door unbolted
- Don't leave the door unbolted when you go out.
- the gate was unbolted
- The gate was unbolted, so the dog escaped.
- unbolted from the inside
- The window had been unbolted from the inside.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unlocked
- Focuses on the lock rather than the sliding bar; a door can be unbolted but still locked.
- unfastened
- More general; it can refer to buttons, straps, or catches, not just a bolt.
Opposites
Word family
- unbolt verb
- To open something by sliding back its bolt.
- bolt noun
- The metal bar used to lock a door or gate.
Commonly confused: unbolted or unbolted (flour)?
unbolted vs unbolted (flour)
A rare, old use meaning 'not sifted', as in unbolted flour; in modern English the word almost always refers to doors and bolts.
Practice
The stable door was ______, so the horses could push it open.
Choose one answer.
We need the adjective describing the door's state, so 'unbolted' fits. 'Unbolting' is a present participle and would need a helping verb; 'unbolt' is the base form; 'bolted' means the opposite — the door was locked.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unbolted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.