What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unpick
Example
She had to unpick the hem of her dress to make it shorter. [unpick: verb]
Example
The mechanic had to unpick the engine to find the source of the problem. [unpick: verb]
Example
The researcher had to unpick the data to find the underlying patterns. [unpick: verb]
unravel
Example
She had to unravel the tangled ball of yarn before she could start knitting. [unravel: verb]
Example
The detective had to unravel the clues to solve the case. [unravel: verb]
Example
The company's plans began to unravel when they lost their main investor. [unravel: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unravel is more commonly used than unpick in everyday language. Unravel is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unpick is less common and refers to a more specific action.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between unpick and unravel?
Both unpick and unravel are relatively informal words, but unravel may be slightly more formal due to its broader scope and metaphorical usage in complex situations.
