unchain

U1N1C3H4A1I1N1
/ʌnˈt͡ʃeɪn/

verb

To remove chains from someone or something.

“unchain workers”

Similar
unfetter
Opposite
chain
OriginEnglish chain ← Middle English cheyne ← Old French chaeine →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

verbunchain (third-person singular simple present unchains, present participle unchaining, simple past and past participle unchained)

present singular third person unchains · participle present unchaining · participle past unchained · past unchained

  1. transitiveTo remove chains from someone or something.

    unchain workers

    1 more example

    They worked to unchain the prisoners from their shackles.

  2. figurativelytransitiveTo free; to liberate.

    unchain the mind

    2 more examples

    unchain creativity

    The reform movement sought to unchain society from old prejudices.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
unfetter

verbremove the chains from

Opposite
chain
Broader
unfasten
Also see
freeunshackle

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ent-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂énts
  3. Proto-Germanic*anda-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*anda-
  5. Old Englishand-
  6. Old Englishon-
  7. Middle Englishon-
  8. Englishun-
  9. Proto-Italic*katesnā
  10. Latincatēna
  11. Old Frenchchaeine
  12. Middle Englishcheyne
  13. Englishchain
  14. Englishunchain

From un- + chain.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan desencadenar
  • desencadenarto remove chains from; to free; to liberate
Esperanto elĉenigi
  • elĉenigito remove chains from; to free; to liberate
Finnish vapauttaa
  • vapauttaato remove chains from; to free; to liberate
French déchainer, déchaîner
  • déchainerto remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • déchaînerto remove chains from; to free; to liberate
  • libérerto remove chains from; to free; to liberate
Portuguese desencadear
  • desencadearto remove chains from; to free; to liberate
Romanian dezlănțui
  • dezlănțuito remove chains from; to free; to liberate
Spanish desencadenar
  • desencadenarto remove chains from; to free; to liberate

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with unchain

mainagaindomainSpainpaincampaignchainmaintaingaintrainobtainremaincontainrainmaineexplainlaneplainjaneplaneWayneUkrainegrainstrain
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

unchain. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unchain

MLA

“unchain.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unchain. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unchain,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unchain.

Source: unchain on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.