Undoing - English meaning

verb

Repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement).

Usage examples:

A proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike

verb

To officially end a law, agreement, or custom

Usage examples:

The opposition party pledged to abrogate the law if they won the election.

verb

To end a law, agreement, or custom formally

Usage examples:

The treaty was abrogated in 1929.

noun

Complete destruction or obliteration.

Usage examples:

The threat of global annihilation

noun

Complete destruction, so that nothing or no one is left

Usage examples:

During the cold war the threat of nuclear annihilation was always on people's minds., the candidate…

noun

Complete defeat

Usage examples:

The candidate suffered annihilation at the polls.

verb

Declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result).

Usage examples:

The decision was annulled by the courts

verb

To announce officially a law, marriage, or other contract as no longer existing

Usage examples:

The contract was finally annulled., you will need a court hearing to get an annulment.

verb

To state officially that something such as a law, agreement, or marriage no longer exists

Usage examples:

The court did not annul the sentences but ruled they should be reviewed., we will seek an early hea…

verb

Decide or announce that (a planned event) will not take place.

Usage examples:

He was forced to cancel his visit

noun

A mark made on a postage stamp to show that it has been used.

Usage examples:

A stamp franked and with an adhesive cancel

verb

To decide that something arranged in advance will not happen, or to state that you do not wish to receive something

Usage examples:

[ i ] we were supposed to meet for dinner but elise had to cancel at the last minute., [ t ] he col…

verb

(of a structure) suddenly fall down or give way.

Usage examples:

The roof collapsed on top of me

noun

An instance of a structure falling down or giving way.

Usage examples:

The collapse of a railway bridge

verb

Break down, literally or metaphorically

noun

The subjugation and assumption of control of a place or people by military force.

Usage examples:

The conquest of the aztecs by the spanish

noun

The act of conquering a country, area, or situation

noun

Someone you have had sex with but probably not a relationship

Usage examples:

I was determined not to become just another one of his conquests.

verb

Revoke or cancel (an order).

Usage examples:

An order to arrest the strike leaders had been countermanded

noun

An order revoking a previous one.

Usage examples:

I forthwith mounted, and went off, lest i should receive a countermand

verb

To change an order that has already been given, especially by giving a new order

Usage examples:

Oral approval will form part of the agreement unless it is countermanded by the client within two w…

verb

Cause severe and disabling damage to; deprive of the ability to function normally.

Usage examples:

Developing countries are crippled by their debts

noun

A person with a severe limitation of a specified kind.

Usage examples:

An emotional cripple

verb

Deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg

verb

Compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break, damage, or distort in shape.

Usage examples:

The front of his car was crushed in the collision

noun

A crowd of people pressed closely together.

Usage examples:

A number of youngsters fainted in the crush

verb

To press something very hard so that it is broken or its shape is destroyed

Usage examples:

The package got crushed in the mail., her car was crushed by a falling tree., i was crushed because…

noun

The action or process of reducing the quality or value of something.

Usage examples:

The outcome is rot and debasement of the system

noun

The action of reducing the quality or value of something

Usage examples:

The government claims that academic standards will be protected from further debasement., currency …

verb

Win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat.

Usage examples:

Garibaldi defeated the neapolitan army

noun

An instance of defeating or being defeated.

Usage examples:

A 1–0 defeat by grimsby

verb

To oppose and cause someone to lose in a competition or war so that you can win

Usage examples:

Bill clinton defeated george bush for the presidency in 1992., [ u ] in the american civil war, the…

noun

The action of deposing someone, especially a monarch.

Usage examples:

Edward v's deposition

noun

A formal written statement by a witness in a legal matter

noun

A statement made by someone to say that something is true and used in a court of law

Usage examples:

Give/make a deposition, say/state/testify sth in a deposition mrs gordon said in a deposition that …

verb

End the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.

Usage examples:

The room had been destroyed by fire

verb

To damage something, esp. in a violent way, so that it can no longer be used or no longer exists

Usage examples:

You can use a shredder to destroy old bank statements., losing his job seemed to completely destroy…

verb

To damage something so badly that it cannot be used

Usage examples:

Most of the old part of the city was destroyed by bombs during the war., completely/totally destroy…

noun

The action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired.

Usage examples:

The destruction of the rainforest

noun

The action of destroying something, or the state of being destroyed

Usage examples:

Unusually high winds left widespread destruction over the area., the child needs help to control hi…

noun

The act of destroying something, or the fact of being destroyed

Usage examples:

Destruction of many people are very concerned about the destruction of the rainforests., trail of d…

verb

Disengage (something or part of something) and remove it.

Usage examples:

He detached the front lamp from its bracket

verb

To separate or remove something from something else that it is connected to

Usage examples:

Detach the lower half of the form and return it to the above address.

verb

To separate or remove something from something else that it is joined to

Usage examples:

Detach sth from sth detach the reply slip from this letter and return it to the above address.

verb

Destroy or ruin.

Usage examples:

The city was devastated by a huge earthquake

verb

To cause great damage or suffering to something or someone, or to violently destroy a place

Usage examples:

Waves of corporate downsizing have devastated employee morale., i was so devastated i was crying co…

verb

To destroy a place or thing completely or cause great damage

prefix

Twice; two-; double.

Usage examples:

Dichromatic

prefix

Variant spelling of dis- shortened before l, m, n, r, s (followed by a consonant), and v ; also often shortened before g, and sometimes before j.

prefix

Variant spelling of dia- shortened before a vowel (as in dielectric ).

verb

Refuse to declare valid.

Usage examples:

He was offside and the goal was disallowed

verb

To state officially that something cannot be accepted or allowed, because it has not been done in the correct way

Usage examples:

The monopolies legislation disallows mergers of major companies within one industry., disallow clai…

verb

To say officially that something cannot be accepted because it has not been done in the correct way

Usage examples:

All protests have been disallowed in the city., the england team had two goals disallowed.

verb

Free (something or someone) from something that they are entangled with.

Usage examples:

‘i must go,’ she said, disentangling her fingers from gabriel's

verb

To separate things that have become joined or confused

Usage examples:

It’s hard to disentangle the truth from all her lies.

noun

A loss of power, prosperity, or status.

Usage examples:

Many factors led to the downfall of the roman empire

noun

(something that causes) the usually sudden destruction of a person, organization, or government and their loss of power, money, or health

Usage examples:

Rampant corruption brought about the downfall of the government., in the end, it was the continual …

noun

The complete removal or destruction of something.

Usage examples:

The elimination of extreme poverty is a key objective

noun

The process of removing something

Usage examples:

The elimination of disease/pain, their elimination from the competition, we eventually found the an…

noun

By removing from several possible answers the ones that are unlikely to be correct until only one is left

Usage examples:

We eventually found the answer by a process of elimination.

noun

A final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.

Usage examples:

The end of the year

verb

Come or bring to a final point; finish.

Usage examples:

When the war ended, policy changed

suffix

Denoting a person or thing to be treated in a specified way.

Usage examples:

Dividend

verb

Free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty.

Usage examples:

He was trying to extricate himself from official duties

verb

Release from entanglement or difficulty

verb

To remove something or set something free with difficulty

Usage examples:

Extricate something from something it took hours to extricate the car from the sand., extricate you…

noun

Lack of success.

Usage examples:

An economic policy that is doomed to failure

noun

The fact of someone or something not succeeding

Usage examples:

Complete failure the meeting was a complete failure., total failure now she finally had to admit th…

noun

The fact of not doing something that you must do or are expected to do

Usage examples:

Failure to his failure to return her phone call made her realize that something was wrong., failure…

noun

Physical injury, especially that which is deliberately inflicted.

Usage examples:

I didn't mean to cause him any harm

verb

Physically injure.

Usage examples:

The villains didn't harm him

noun

Physical or other injury or damage

Usage examples:

Missing a meal once in a while won’t do you any harm., fortunately, she didn’t come to any harm whe…

verb

Weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function).

Usage examples:

A noisy job could permanently impair their hearing

verb

To damage or weaken something so that it is less effective

Usage examples:

Lack of sleep impaired her ability to think clearly., [ c ] the law bans discrimination against any…

verb

Make or prove (an argument, statement, or theory) unsound or erroneous.

Usage examples:

His second is that finding unpleasant - even horrible - application of a scientific theory or philo…

verb

To make something not true, or to make something unacceptable

Usage examples:

A few minor factual errors should not invalidate the theory.

verb

To officially stop a document, contract, etc. being legally or officially acceptable

Usage examples:

If you do not go to an approved garage, you are likely to invalidate a warranty on a new car., the …

adjective

Not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached.

Usage examples:

A loose tooth

noun

Loose play.

Usage examples:

He was in powerful form in the loose

verb

Set free; release.

Usage examples:

The hounds have been loosed

verb

Make (something tied, fastened, or fixed in place) less tight or firm.

Usage examples:

Loosen your collar and tie

verb

To become or make something less firmly fixed

Usage examples:

[ i ] the screws holding the light fixture have loosened, and it’s dangling from the ceiling., [ t …

noun

A condition of disorder and confusion, or something in that condition

Usage examples:

They left the kitchen a mess., we sat in traffic for two hours while they cleaned up the mess from …

verb

Impair the quality or appearance of; spoil.

Usage examples:

Violence marred a number of new year celebrations

abbreviation

March.

verb

To spoil something, making it less good or less enjoyable

Usage examples:

Water will mar the finish of polished wood.

verb

Make ineffective; nullify.

Usage examples:

Alcohol negates the effects of the drug

verb

To show something to be wrong or to be the opposite of what was thought, or to cause something to have no effect

Usage examples:

The increase in sales was negated by the rising cost of materials.

noun

The inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.

Usage examples:

Injury, consistently his nemesis, struck him down during the match

proper noun

A goddess usually portrayed as the agent of divine punishment for wrongdoing or presumption (hubris).

noun

Someone's nemesis is a person or thing that is very difficult for them to defeat.

Usage examples:

The tax increases proved to be the president's political nemesis.

verb

Make legally null and void; invalidate.

Usage examples:

It is at the discretion of the court to nullify the decision

verb

To cause an agreement or result to be no longer effective or consider it as not existing

Usage examples:

The referee nullified the goal.

verb

To make a legal agreement or decision no longer have any legal force

Usage examples:

The airline wants to nullify employees' contracts if no settlement is reached., a suit has been fil…

verb

Drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place.

Usage examples:

The reformists were ousted from power

verb

Reject or disallow by exercising one's superior authority.

Usage examples:

Chief judge moran overruled the government's objections

verb

Remove forcibly from power.

Usage examples:

Military coups which had attempted to overthrow the king

noun

A removal from power.

Usage examples:

The speeches called for the overthrow of the monarchy

verb

Tip (something) over so that it is on its side or upside down.

Usage examples:

The crowd proceeded to overturn cars and set them on fire

noun

An act of overturning something.

Usage examples:

For the most part the only people who actually bothered to look at the registration rolls and allow…

verb

To turn over, or to cause something to turn over

Usage examples:

[ i ] the truck overturned, spilling its cargo., [ t ] the court of appeals overturned her convicti…

idiom

To cause something to stop existing or happening

Usage examples:

Mrs. carroll said she was going to put an end to all the talking and fooling around in our class.

noun

Danger, or the possibility of danger, defeat, or loss

Usage examples:

[ c ] there’s a risk of an accident happening in this fog., [ c ] i was afraid to take the risk of …

noun

The possibility that something bad or dangerous will happen

Usage examples:

Heavy reliance upon one client is not without risk when building up a practice., increase/reduce th…

verb

Reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.

Usage examples:

His conviction was quashed on appeal

verb

To stop or block something from happening

Usage examples:

The secretary of defense tried to quash speculation that he was planning to resign following the di…

verb

To state officially that something, especially an earlier official decision, is no longer to be accepted

Usage examples:

Quash a conviction/decision/order his conviction was quashed in march after a lengthy legal battle.…

verb

Allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free.

Usage examples:

An official confirmed the prisoners would be released

noun

The action or process of releasing or being released.

Usage examples:

A campaign by the prisoner's mother resulted in his release

verb

Revoke or annul (a law or act of parliament).

Usage examples:

The legislation was repealed five months later

noun

The action of revoking or annulling a law or act of parliament.

Usage examples:

The house voted in favour of repeal

verb

(of a government) to make a law no longer a law

Usage examples:

Legislators repealed the sales tax., senators called for the law’s repeal.

verb

Revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement).

Usage examples:

The government eventually rescinded the directive

verb

To make a law, order, or decision no longer have any legal effect

Usage examples:

The vote rescinds zoning decisions made earlier in the decade.

verb

To officially end a law, take back a decision, or say that an agreement no longer exists

Usage examples:

Rescind a law/contract/decision we urge the committee to rescind its decision.

verb

Draw back.

Usage examples:

She retracted her hand as if she'd been burnt

verb

To say publicly that you will not do something you had said you would do, or to admit that something that you had said was true is false

Usage examples:

[ t ] she had to retract statements in published articles., [ t ] the pilot retracted the landing g…

verb

To take back an offer or statement, etc. or admit that a statement was false

Usage examples:

Retract a statement/comment/decision a political uproar followed, and he quickly retracted his comm…

verb

Move backwards.

Usage examples:

The lorry reversed into the back of a bus

adjective

Going in or turned towards the direction opposite to that previously stated.

Usage examples:

The trend appears to be going in the reverse direction

noun

A complete change of direction or action.

Usage examples:

The gall actuates a reverse of photosynthesis

verb

Officially cancel (a decree, decision, or promise).

Usage examples:

The men appealed and the sentence was revoked

verb

To say officially that an agreement, permission, or law is no longer effective

Usage examples:

Licenses can be revoked for up to five years.

verb

To state officially that an agreement, right, or legal document is no longer effective

Usage examples:

The commission may revoke the registration of anyone convicted of a felony in the past 10 years., r…

noun

The physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed.

Usage examples:

A large white house falling into gentle ruin

verb

Reduce (a building or place) to a state of decay, collapse, or disintegration.

Usage examples:

The castle was ruined when dynamite was used to demolish one of the corner towers

verb

To spoil or destroy something

Usage examples:

It would be a shame to ruin such a beautiful place., that guy isn’t going to ruin my life.

noun

The action or fact of ruining someone or something or of being ruined.

Usage examples:

Commercial malpractice causes the ruination of thousands of people

noun

Destruction

Usage examples:

Alcohol was the ruination of him.

verb

Deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage.

Usage examples:

Power lines from south africa were sabotaged by rebel forces

noun

The action of sabotaging something.

Usage examples:

A coordinated campaign of sabotage

verb

To damage or destroy equipment, weapons, or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor

Usage examples:

The rebels had tried to sabotage the oil pipeline.

verb

Decisively put an end to.

Usage examples:

A spokesman has scotched the rumours

noun

A wedge placed under a wheel or other rolling object to prevent it moving or slipping.

noun

A cut or score in skin or another surface.

Usage examples:

A scotch in his face

noun

A hole in a ship's side to carry water overboard from the deck.

Usage examples:

Nylon panels on the sides of the geckos eject water like scuppers on a tramp steamer - hop out of t…

verb

Sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately.

Usage examples:

The ship was scuppered and seriously damaged

verb

To sink your own ship on purpose

Usage examples:

Arriving late for the interview scuppered my chances of getting the job.

verb

Diminish or destroy the value or quality of.

Usage examples:

I wouldn't want to spoil your fun

noun

Goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place.

Usage examples:

The looters carried their spoils away

verb

To destroy or damage something, or to become destroyed or damaged

Usage examples:

[ t ] the oil spill spoiled five miles of coastline., [ t ] don’t tell me how it ends, you’ll spoil…

verb

Make a soft sucking sound such as that made by treading heavily through mud.

Usage examples:

Bedraggled guests squelched across the lawn to seek shelter

noun

A soft sucking sound made when pressure is applied to liquid or mud.

Usage examples:

The squelch of their feet

verb

To stop something quickly and completely

Usage examples:

One professor claimed that the university tried to squelch his criticisms.

verb

Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).

Usage examples:

The case involved an attempt to subvert the rule of law

verb

To try to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system

Usage examples:

The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government., our best intentions are sometimes subverte…

verb

Overbalance or cause to overbalance and fall.

Usage examples:

She toppled over when i touched her

verb

To lean forward and fall

Usage examples:

[ t ] a large tree was toppled by the wind., [ t ] the government toppled after several large publi…

verb

To remove a person or organization from a position of power

Usage examples:

This was a secret bid to topple the chairman and take his job., their aim was to topple the superma…

verb

Overbalance or cause to overbalance and fall.

Usage examples:

She toppled over when i touched her

verb

Present participle of topple

Usage examples:

The statue of the dictator was toppled (over) by the crowds., the tree toppled and fell., the churc…

verb

To (cause to) lose balance and fall down

Usage examples:

The statue of the dictator was toppled (over) by the crowds., the tree toppled and fell.

verb

Release from bonds or restraints.

Usage examples:

The guards unbound the prisoners

verb

To release someone or something from a rope, string, etc. that has been tying him, her, or it up

Usage examples:

My hands were unbound and my blindfold removed.

verb

Open (a door or window) by drawing back a bolt.

Usage examples:

He ran down the stairs and unbolted the heavy wooden door

verb

Remove the bridle from (a horse).

Usage examples:

He unbridled his mare and let her roam

verb

Unfasten the buttons of (a garment).

Usage examples:

Unbuttoning her jacket she sat down at the table

verb

To unfasten the buttons on something such as a shirt

Usage examples:

He unbuttoned his jacket and sat back comfortably in his chair., his shirt was unbuttoned to show o…

verb

Deselect (an option on an electronic interface) by pressing a button on a mouse or screen.

Usage examples:

County workers running the program forgot to unclick a box that loaded all the early voting results

verb

Release or unfasten (something) with a clicking sound.

Usage examples:

I put my hand down to unclick my seatbelt but realized i forgot to buckle it in the first place

verb

Disconnect (something, especially a railway vehicle that has been coupled to another).

Usage examples:

They uncoupled the engine

verb

Erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).

Usage examples:

The flow of water had undermined pillars supporting the roof

verb

To gradually weaken or destroy someone or something

Usage examples:

The incompetence and arrogance of the city’s administration have undermined public confidence in go…

verb

Open the fastening of; undo (something).

Usage examples:

Allie stands before the mirror unfastening her earrings

verb

To make looser or take apart something that fastens or is fastened

Usage examples:

[ t ] cal loosened his tie and unfastened his collar.

verb

Release from a restraining or inhibiting force.

Usage examples:

His imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic

verb

Unhook or unfasten (something tethered to or caught on something else).

Usage examples:

He unhitched the side of the trailer

verb

Unfasten or detach (something that is held or caught by a hook).

Usage examples:

She unhooked a towelling robe from behind the door

verb

Undo the laces of (a shoe or garment).

Usage examples:

She unlaced her boots

verb

To unfasten something that is tied with laces, for example shoes

Usage examples:

She began to unlace her boots.

verb

Detach; separate.

Usage examples:

She unlinked her arm from shelley's

verb

Undo the lock of (something), typically with a key.

Usage examples:

He unlocked the door to his room

verb

To open a lock using a key, an electronic device, or a series of numbers or letters

Usage examples:

Could you unlock the door for me?

verb

To make something available to be used in order to increase its value or to make a profit from it

Usage examples:

If we do not unlock the value of this business, someone else will., the demerger will unlock shareh…

verb

To free by removing or releasing manacles or handcuffs.

verb

Cause (someone) to fall from a horse or bicycle.

Usage examples:

Rawhide unseated kevin bradley at the first fence

verb

Present participle of unseat

Usage examples:

The opposition candidate failed by only 39 votes to unseat the cabinet minister.

verb

Release from shackles, chains, or other physical restraints.

Usage examples:

They were unshackled and released

verb

Undo or unfasten (something that is tied or tied up).

Usage examples:

She knelt to untie her laces

verb

To unfasten a knot or something tied

Usage examples:

I had to help her untie her shoelaces.

verb

Defeat thoroughly.

Usage examples:

He successfully vanquished his rival

verb

Present participle of vanquish

Usage examples:

Napoleon was vanquished at the battle of waterloo in 1815., the vanquished army surrendered their w…

noun

A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a lawmaking body.

Usage examples:

Neither state was given a veto over amendments to the act

verb

Exercise a veto against (a decision or proposal).

Usage examples:

The president vetoed the bill

noun

The power to refuse to allow something to be done, or such a refusal

Usage examples:

[ c ] the president has promised a veto if congress passes that bill., [ u ] the mayor will have no…