undo

[ uhn-doo ]

verb (used with object)

, un·did [uhn-, did], un·done [uhn-, duhn], un·do·ing.

1. to reverse the doing of; cause to be as if never done:

   Murder once done can never be undone.

2. to do away with; erase; efface:

   to undo the havoc done by the storm.

3. to bring to ruin or disaster; destroy:

   In the end his lies undid him.

4. to unfasten by releasing:

   to undo a gate; to undo a button.

5. to untie or loose (a knot, rope, etc.).
6. to open (a package, wrapping, etc.).
7. Archaic. to explain; interpret.

undo

/ ʌnˈduː /

verb

1. also intr to untie, unwrap, or open or become untied, unwrapped, etc
2. to reverse the effects of
3. to cause the downfall of
4. obsolete.
   to explain or solve

Derived Forms

• unˈdoer, noun

Other Words From

• un·doa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of undo¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English undōn; cognate with Dutch ontdoen; un- ², do ¹

Example Sentences

Donald Trump has vowed to undo the changes made by President Biden to Title X, the country’s only national, federally-funded family planning programme.

From BBC

Even if abortion rights supporters secure a ballot measure in every state where that is possible, there will be no way for voters to undo abortion bans across much of the Midwest and Southeast without electing state lawmakers to do the job.

From Slate

While President Joe Biden reversed many of those actions and made fighting climate change a centerpiece of his presidency, Trump has pledged to undo those efforts during his second term with potentially enormous implications — climate analysts at Carbon Brief predicted that another four years of Trump would lead to the nation emitting an additional 4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide than it would under his opponent.

From Salon

While Trump was elected on a “burn it all to the ground” platform, he will not be able to undo everything we’ve gained on climate.

From Slate

With years of major wind and solar projects in the pipeline and with renewable-friendly policies designed to last, these facts will continue to be even more true in the future, even if Trump tries to undo Biden’s signature climate laws.

From Slate

Related Words

• abolish
• annul
• destroy
• mar
• negate
• offset
• overturn
• quash
• reverse
• ruin
• shatter
• spoil
• subvert
• undermine
• wipe out
• wreck