verb
débloquer
unlock
Definition & meaning
- To unlock: To open something that was secured with a lock or a bolt (e.g., a door or a safe).
- To unblock: To clear a passage or a mechanism that was obstructed or jammed (e.g., a pipe, a road, or a computer process).
- To release or authorize funds: In finance, to make a sum of money available for use.
- To solve a stalemate: In a figurative sense, to help a situation progress when it was stuck or at a standstill (e.g., negotiations).
- Colloquial: To say or do something irrational, nonsensical, or crazy.
Grammar & Word origin
The word is a regular verb of the first group (-er). It is formed by the prefix dé- (expressing reversal or removal) and the noun bloc (derived from the Middle Dutch blok), meaning a mass or obstruction. Combined, they create a verb that signifies the removal of an obstacle or a state of being "blocked."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
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Examples
Il doit débloquer son téléphone demain.verb
He must unlock his phone tomorrow.
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