undo

[uhn-doo]

verb (used with object)

undid, undone, undoing. 

1. to reverse the doing of; cause to be as if never done.

   Murder once done can never be undone.

2. to do away with; erase; efface.

   to undo the havoc done by the storm.

3. to bring to ruin or disaster; destroy.

   In the end his lies undid him.

4. to unfasten by releasing.

   to undo a gate; to undo a button.

5. to untie or loose (a knot, rope, etc.).

6. to open (a package, wrapping, etc.).

7. Archaic.,  to explain; interpret.

undo

/ ʌnˈduː /

verb

1. (also intr) to untie, unwrap, or open or become untied, unwrapped, etc

2. to reverse the effects of

3. to cause the downfall of

4. obsolete,  to explain or solve

Other Word Forms

• undoable adjective
• undoer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of undo¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English undōn; cognate with Dutch ontdoen; un- ², do ¹

Example Sentences

It was the police investigation into Gustavson that would be Hopper's undoing.

From BBC

While Roman stumbles through life without Rocky, Dennis dreads the realization that his lies may undo everything.

From Los Angeles Times

He was pretty much Oscar the whole way through, and it didn’t feel like it was going to undo anything with “The Office” to keep Oscar involved.

From Los Angeles Times

But in an economy where women are responsible for half the labor force, and have been for 25 years, the solution isn’t as simple as undoing all of that.

From Salon

He said Reform UK - which is leading in national opinion polls - would "undo all of this with legislation" if it won the next general election.

From BBC

Related Words

• abolish 
• annul 
• destroy 
• mar 
• negate 
• offset 
• overturn 
• quash 
• reverse 
• ruin 
• shatter 
• spoil 
• subvert 
• undermine 
• wipe out 
• wreck