# unblock

Pronunciation: say "un-BLOK" US /ʌnˈblɑk/, UK /ʌnˈblɒk/

## Verb

1. To remove or clear away a block or obstruction from a passage, pipe, or opening.
   - Simple: To clear away something that is blocking a pipe, drain, or path.
   - _Engineers worked overnight to unblock the tunnel after the collapse._
   - _A sudden surge of water finally unblocked the culvert beneath the road._
2. To enable communication again (by phone, messaging, or similar) with someone you had previously blocked.
   - Simple: To let someone reach you again after you had stopped their messages or calls.
   - _After the misunderstanding, she chose to unblock him on every platform._
   - _The moderator unblocked the user once the appeal was approved._
3. To free something up or make it available, especially resources or progress that had been held back.
   - Simple: To free something up so that it can be used again.
   - _The agreement should unblock billions in frozen aid._
   - _Withdrawing the veto unblocked the negotiations within hours._
5. In whist, to discard a high card so as not to interrupt the run of one's partner's long suit.
   - Simple: In cards, to throw away a high card so it won't get in the way of your partner's long suit.
   - _A good player will unblock to let a partner's long suit score._
   - _He unblocked with the king, clearing the way for her spades._

## Noun

4. The act of removing a block or blockage so that something can flow or function again.
   - Simple: The act of clearing away a block or blockage.
   - _The unblock of the main sewer line required heavy equipment._
   - _Technicians scheduled the unblock for early the next morning._

## Origin

Formed from the prefix un- combined with block.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/unblock (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).