unload

/ʌnˈləʊd/

//ʌnˈləʊd// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"unload" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“unload” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #21,399 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#21,399
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To remove the load or cargo from (a vehicle, etc.).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

unload vs upload
83% similar
unload vs unlock
67% similar
unload vs untold
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for unload
PropertyValue
Headwordunload
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ʌnˈləʊd/
Letters6
Frequency rank#21,399
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “unload” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). unload lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for unload is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ʌnˈləʊd/. Corpus data places it at rank #21,399 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for unload, with forms such as "nuload", "ulnoad", and "unlaod". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "upload", "unlock", "untold", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From un- + load. The correct English form is unload, spelled U-N-L-O-A-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    To remove the load or cargo from (a vehicle, etc.).
  2. 2
    To remove (the load or cargo) from a vehicle, etc.
  3. 3
    To deposit one's load or cargo.
  4. 4
    To give vent to or express; to unburden oneself of.
  5. 5
    To remove (something previously loaded) from memory.
  6. 6
    To discharge, pour, or expel.
  7. 7
    To get rid of or dispose of.
  8. 8
    To sell or dispose of (something) with the intent to deceive; to attempt to pass off a counterfeit or inferior product as genuine.
  9. 9
    To reduce the vertical load factor on (an airplane's wing or other lifting surface), typically by pitching downwards toward the ground to decrease angle of attack and reduce the amount of lift generated.
  10. 10
    To deliver forcefully.
  11. 11
    To ejaculate, particularly within an orifice.
  12. 12
    To remove the charge from; to discharge.

Etymology

From un- + load.

This word in other languages

descargar(Español)décharger(Français)entladen(Deutsch)descarregar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: nuload,ulnoad,unlaod,unlload,unloadd,unloda,unnload,unolad

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of unload - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

nuload2ulnoad2unlaod2unlload1unloadd1unloda2unnload1unolad2
Edit distance from "unload"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "unload"?
"unload" is spelled U-N-L-O-A-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ʌnˈləʊd/.
What does "unload" mean?
As a verb, "unload" means: To remove the load or cargo from (a vehicle, etc.).
What words are commonly confused with "unload"?
"unload" is commonly confused with "upload", "unlock", "untold". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "unload"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unload" is /ʌnˈləʊd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "unload"?
From un- + load. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “unload”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is U-N-L-O-A-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ʌnˈləʊd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “upload” - see the side-by-side comparison. unload vs upload
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list