Meaning & use
unscrewing
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“unscrewing” is a form of “unscrew”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
the act of turning something so that it comes loose from a screw thread
Grammar: Can be used with an object (unscrew the lid) or without (the lid unscrews easily).
Patterns
- unscrew something
- unscrew something from something
- something unscrews
He is unscrewing the lid of the jar to get to the cookies.
Unscrewing the old light bulb took only a few seconds.
The cap unscrews if you turn it to the left.
Word forms
| third person singular | unscrews |
|---|---|
| past tense | unscrewed |
| past participle | unscrewed |
| present participle | unscrewing |
Common combinations
- unscrew the lid
- She unscrewed the lid and poured a glass of milk.
- unscrew a bulb
- You need to unscrew the bulb before replacing it.
- unscrew the cap
- Unscrew the cap to let the air out.
Synonyms and how they differ
- loosen
- Loosen means to make something less tight, but it does not always involve a screw thread.
- open
- Open is a more general word; unscrew is more specific about the turning motion.
Opposites
Word family
- screw noun
- A small metal object with a spiral ridge, used to fasten things.
- screwdriver noun
- A tool for turning screws.
Practice
She finished ______ the bolts and lifted the cover off.
Choose one answer.
After 'finished' we use the -ing form, so 'unscrewing' is correct. 'Unscrew' is the base form and does not fit after 'finished'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unscrewing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.