unspool

verb

un·​spool ˌən-ˈspül How to pronounce unspool (audio)
unspooled; unspooling; unspools
Synonyms of unspoolnext

transitive verb

1
: to unwind from a spool
unspool the cable
2
: to execute or present artfully or gracefully
unspooled a jump shot
unspooling an intricate tale

intransitive verb

: to be presented or revealed on or as if on a movie screen

Examples of unspool in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the next six weeks, the Oscars race will unspool in waves — the thin air of Telluride, the carpets of Venice’s Lido, the crowds of Toronto, the tastemakers of New York — with a single afternoon screening able to rewrite the whole narrative. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 Around the world, researchers are seeking to unspool the mysteries of Kelch13. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Unpaved roads unspool in all directions, luring gravel bikers who test their quads against the rolling terrain. — Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 Advertisement The reason a single text message could unspool an entire life is that the life hung on a single key. — Ryan Pettit, Time, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unspool

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unspool was in 1940

Rhymes for unspool

See All Rhymes for unspool

Browse Nearby Words

unspoken to
unspool
unsporting
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unspool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unspool. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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