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undoto cancel or reverse the effects of a previous action

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to cancel or reverse the effects of a previous action

Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌnˈduː/

Example Sentences

  • My cat somehow managed to undo my entire day's work by walking across the keyboard.
  • The magician promised to undo the spell, but I'm still a frog.
  • You can undo your last action by pressing Ctrl+Z.

undo

VERB

[/ʌnˈduː/]

to cancel or reverse the effects of a previous action

The panicked designer frantically mashed the keyboard shortcut to undo his disastrous mistake on the screen.
💡 Concept

The panicked designer frantically mashed the keyboard shortcut to undo his disastrous mistake on the screen.

UN(reverse) + DO(action) — to undo a mistake in knitting is to physically pull the yarn and unravel everything you just did.
🧠 Mnemonic

UN(reverse) + DO(action) — to undo a mistake in knitting is to physically pull the yarn and unravel everything you just did.

He aggressively scrubbed the ugly tattoo with cheap shampoo, desperately trying to undo his terrible mistake.
🎵 Rhyme

He aggressively scrubbed the ugly tattoo with cheap shampoo, desperately trying to undo his terrible mistake.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ʌnˈduː/
🇬🇧 UK/ʌnˈduː/

🌳Etymology

Prefixun--
Rootdo

Origin

Undo originates from Old English 'undon', combining the prefix 'un-' meaning 'reverse' or 'opposite' with 'do' meaning 'to perform'. The compound developed to mean 'to reverse an action' or 'to bring back to an undone state'.

Breakdown

un- (reverse, opposite) + do (perform, make). The prefix negates or reverses the action denoted by the root verb.

🎵Rhyme

bamboocanoedebutpursue
bamboo
canoe
debut
pursue

🔗Collocations

undo a button
undo changes
undo damage
undo a knot
undo the work
cannot be undone

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My cat somehow managed to undo my entire day's work by walking across the keyboard.

😄 Fun example

The magician promised to undo the spell, but I'm still a frog.

You can undo your last action by pressing Ctrl+Z.

The damage to their friendship could not be undone.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

reversecancelannulnullifyrevoke

Antonyms

dofastenconfirm

Related

unfastenuntierestorerevert

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