unsheathe

/ˌən-ˈshēt͟h/ (ame, mw)

unsheathe — verb

  • unsheathepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unsheathes3rd person singular
  • unsheathing-ing form
  • unsheathedpast simple

1. to pull a knife, sword, or similar blade weapon out of its protective cover so t

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to pull a knife, sword, or similar blade weapon out of its protective cover so that it is ready to be used

例句

The knight unsheathed his longsword as the enemy army charged across the field.

unsheathe + sword in a military/historical context

Kwame carefully unsheathed the hunting knife to clean it after the trip.

同義詞
  • draw

    more general term — works for any weapon (sword, gun, bow) and for non-weapon actions (draw a curtain)

  • pull

    less formal and broader in meaning — lacks the specific blade-and-sheath nuance

  • whip out

    informal — emphasises speed and suddenness; often used for hidden weapons

反義詞
  • sheathe

    the direct opposite — to put a blade back into its sheath

文法句型

unsheathe + noun phrase (the weapon)

unsheathe + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in literary, historical fiction, and formal descriptive writing — uncommon in everyday spoken conversation. The more general verb 'draw' can replace 'unsheathe' for most weapons and is preferred in casual contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The cowboy unsheathed his gun.
✅The cowboy drew his gun.
💡'unsheathe' is only used for bladed weapons that are kept in a sheath or scabbard, not for firearms.
❌She unsheathed the letter from the envelope.
✅She took the letter out of the envelope.
💡'unsheathe' refers specifically to blades from sheaths, not to removing any object from a container.