What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unreel
Example
He began to unreel the film from the projector. [unreel: verb]
Example
The spool of thread was difficult to unreel without tangling. [unreel: verb]
unwind
Example
I like to unwind with a good book after a long day at work. [unwind: verb]
Example
She needed to unwind the cord before plugging in the lamp. [unwind: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unwind is more commonly used than unreel in everyday language. Unwind is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unreel is less common and refers to a specific action of unwinding a reel or spool.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unreel and unwind?
Both unreel and unwind are relatively informal words, but unwind is more commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
