Undo
ʌnˈduː
Definitions
2 meaningsTo reverse or cancel something that has been done or to release a knot.
ʌnˈduː
To reverse the effects of something
Can you undo the knot in the rope?
💡 Simply: Imagine you made a mistake while drawing. 'Undo' is like pressing the magic button that makes the mistake disappear! It means to make things go back to how they were before.
👶 For kids: To make something go back to the way it was.
More Examples
I had to undo the mistake I made in the calculation.
She pressed the 'undo' button to revert to the previous version of the document.
How It's Used
"I need to undo the damage I caused."
"Click the undo button to revert your last action."
To open or untie something that is fastened.
ʌnˈduː
To release or loosen something that is fastened
She slowly undid the ribbon on the gift.
💡 Simply: If something is tied, zipped, or buttoned, 'undo' means to open it up! Like when you untie your shoes.
👶 For kids: To open something that is tied or closed.
More Examples
He struggled to undo the complicated lock.
I need to undo my shoelaces before I can take my shoes off.
How It's Used
"He carefully undid the package."
"She undid the buttons of her coat."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Undo the damage
To repair the negative consequences of something.
"The company is working to undo the damage caused by the scandal."
Undo one's work
To cause something that was previously done to fail.
"Poor planning could easily undo all the hard work of the team."
From Middle English *undon*, from Old English *undōn* ('to reverse, annul'), from *un-* (un-) + *dōn* ('to do').
The word 'undo' has been used since the Middle Ages, originally meaning to annul or cancel something that was done.
Memory tip
Think of 'un-' as 'reverse' and 'do' as 'action'. So, undo means reverse the action.