[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/unpick/)

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# unpick

verb (unpick, unpicks, unpicked, unpicking)

«unpick» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To unpick is to take out the stitches of sewing or knitting carefully, one by one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#m1)
2. (figurative) To take apart a problem, plan or argument carefully to understand it or undo it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#m2)

### In the lessons

In textiles and sewing lessons: if you make a mistake, unpick the stitches with a seam ripper. In maths and reading lessons: «Let's unpick this question» = look at each part. Phrases: unpick a seam, unpick a problem.

### Examples

- I sewed it wrong, so I had to unpick the seam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x1)
- Use the seam ripper to unpick the stitches. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x2)
- Nan unpicked the old jumper to reuse the wool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x3)
- Let's unpick this word problem step by step. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x4)
- The detective unpicked the story bit by bit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x5)
- It took an hour to unpick the knots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x6)
- "All the embroidery is unpicked," said the Princess, sighing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/#x7)

### Note

Regular: unpicked. Mainly UK; US often «take out stitches» or «rip out». Figurative use is common in British classrooms.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unpick» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unpick/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unpick» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unpick.html) on Mova free.