1 C1 neutral
To disentangle or separate threads or fibres that have become knotted.
"She patiently ravelled out the knotted skein of wool before she could begin knitting."
separable
ravel out
C1 formal separable transitive/intransitive
To disentangle or unwind threads, or to clarify and untangle something complex.
In plain English
To pull apart or untangle something that is knotted or mixed up.
What does "ravel out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
To clarify or make sense of something complicated or confused.
"It took the detective weeks to ravel out the truth behind the contradictory witness statements."
separable
3 C1 neutral
To come apart or fray at the edges (of fabric or material).
"The hem of the old curtain had started to ravel out after years of washing."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pull the threads out of fabric, separating them from their woven arrangement.
Actually means
To pull apart or untangle something that is knotted or mixed up.
Usage tip
Somewhat archaic or literary. More common in older British texts. In modern usage, 'unravel' is far more frequent. Note the paradox: 'ravel' and 'unravel' can mean the same thing, which often surprises learners.
Words that pair with "ravel out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
thread knot mystery problem tangle question
How to conjugate "ravel out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
ravel out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ravels out
he/she/it
Past simple
raveled out
yesterday
Past participle
raveled out
have + pp
-ing form
raveling out
continuous
Hear "ravel out" in the wild
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Other ways to say "ravel out"
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Keep exploring
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