untether

verb

un·​teth·​er ˌən-ˈte-t͟hər How to pronounce untether (audio)
untethered; untethering; untethers
Synonyms of untethernext

transitive verb

: to free from or as if from a tether
untethered the horse
untethered himself from his family and struck out on his own

Examples of untether 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.
Jafferis hopes to untether it by installing a power source on the craft itself. — Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2012 Yet as Lourenço has shown in Angola, sometimes new leaders can untether themselves from their patrons. — Judd Devermont, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2019 With Revolver, the Beatles finally took the time to untether themselves from their past. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2022 Oppenheimer untethers his script from the responsibilities of explaining how this doomsday manor functions. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for untether

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of untether was circa 1775

Rhymes for untether

See All Rhymes for untether

Browse Nearby Words

untested
untether
unthanked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Untether.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/untether. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

untether

verb
un·​teth·​er ˌən-ˈtet͟h-ər How to pronounce untether (audio)
ˈən-
: to free from a tether

More from Merriam-Webster on untether

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