Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive & intransitive verb To remove the bars from or become unbarred.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To remove a bar or bars from: said especially of a gate or door.
  • To open; unlock: especially in figurative uses.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To remove a bar or bars from; to unbolt; to open.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To remove an impediment that obstructs the passage of (someone or something).
  • verb transitive To remove a prohibition.
  • verb transitive To unlock or unbolt a door that had been locked or bolted with a bar.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb remove a bar from (a door)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

un- +‎ bar

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word unbar.

Examples

  • “Oates, unbar that door,” Umber said, pointing to the small, sturdy door that bypassed the barred gate.

    End of Time P. W. Catanese 2011

  • “Oates, unbar that door,” Umber said, pointing to the small, sturdy door that bypassed the barred gate.

    End of Time P. W. Catanese 2011

  • I don't know the record for harnessing a three-horse sled, but I'll swear we broke it; I wrenched home the last buckle while East scuttled across the snow to unbar the gate.

    The Sky Writer Geoff Barbanell 2010

  • Kane with shaking fingers began to unbar the door.

    The Moon of Skulls Howard, Robert E. 2005

  •   They had to scramble over our slaughtered door guards to do it, but they managed to unbar the sturdy door and rush out.

    Lord Conrads Crusade Frankowski, Leo 2005

  • Jeronimo gave the lamp to Vivaldi, while he began to unbar and unlock the door, and Vivaldi had prepared to reward the brother for his fidelity, before they perceived that the door refused to yield.

    The Italian 2004

  • “It does make a noise if you unbar the door,” said

    The Complete Father Brown 2003

  • Rose-red hastened to unbar the door, and thought she saw a poor man standing in the darkness outside; but it was no such thing, only a bear, who poked his thick black head through the door.

    The Blue Fairy Book 2003

  • It was only when he reached the gate and tried to unbar it that he realised he couldn't make it.

    Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine 2003

  • “It does make a noise if you unbar the door,” said

    The Complete Father Brown 2003

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.