uhn-LAHKT
/əˈnlɑkt/
unlocked is pronounced uhn-LAHKT (/əˈnlɑkt/). Unlocked is the past participle and past tense form of unlock. It denotes releasing access or opening something that was secured, either literally (a door, box) or metaphorically (an opportunity). In pronunciation, the final -ed is pronounced as a /t/ sound after voiceless consonants, so “unlocked” is pronounced /ənˈlɒkt/ in UK English and /ənˈlɑːkt/ in many US varieties, with word stress on the second syllable.
Unlocked is the past participle and past tense form of unlock. It denotes releasing access or opening something that was secured, either literally (a door, box) or metaphorically (an opportunity). In pronunciation, the final -ed is pronounced as a /t/ sound after voiceless consonants, so “unlocked” is pronounced /ənˈlɒkt/ in UK English and /ənˈlɑːkt/ in many US varieties, with word stress on the second syllable.
"The door was unlocked by a careful click of the key."
"Her confidence finally unlocked when she presented her research."
"The mystery’s solution unlocked new career possibilities."
Pronounce it as un-LOCKED with the main stress on LOCKed: /ənˈlɑːkt/ in US general American and /ənˈlɒkt/ in many UK varieties. Start with a neutral schwa in the first syllable, then a clear, tense vowel in the second syllable before the final voiceless /t/. The final -ed behaves as a /t/ due to the voiceless /k/ and /t/ environment. Mouth positions: relax the jaw for /ə/; open the mouth slightly for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent; finish with the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge for /t/.
Two frequent errors: (1) pronouncing the second syllable as /ɒk/ instead of /ɑːk/ in US; ensure the vowel quality matches the underlying vowel in the stressed syllable. (2) Leaving out the final /t/ or adding an extra syllable, which makes it sound like /ˈʌnˌlɒk-ɪd/. Correction: keep the /t/ crisp and short, and end with a clean stop. Practice with a minimal pair like /ənˈlɑːkt/ vs. /ənˈlɑːkɪd/ to fix the final consonant.
In US GA, the second syllable vowel is often /ɑː/ (as in father) with rhoticity affecting occasional linking; in non-rhotic UK locales, you’ll hear /ɒ/ or /ɒː/ with a stronger non-rhotic vowel before /k/. Australian English typically features a centralized or even rounded /ɒ/ or /ɒː/ depending on speaker; the /r/ is not pronounced, so the syllable remains vowel-focused. The final /t/ remains aspirated in careful speech but can be flapped in some US dialects if the /t/ is between vowels in fast speech.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /lk/ followed by /t/, requiring a swift, explosive alveolar stop without an extra vowel. The transition from the stressed /lɒ/ or /lɑː/ to the /k/ is abrupt, and non-native speakers often add a schwa or misplace tongue position. Focus on a short, pointed /l/ release into the /k/, and ensure the final /t/ is released cleanly. IPA anchors: /ənˈlɑːkt/ (US/UK variants).
A key unique aspect is the onset combination involving a light /l/ followed by a sévère plosive sequence /lk/ before /t/. Many learners choke at the transition between /l/ and /k/; practice a rapid /l/ to /k/ without inserting a vowel. Also, ensure the first syllable remains unstressed (schwa) so the emphasis lands squarely on the second syllable.
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Unlocked derives from un- (a negative prefix) + lock (noun/verb) with the standard English past participle suffix -ed. The root lock originates from Old English locian (to fasten) and related Germanic cognates. The prefix un- signals reversal or release, yielding a sense of “not fastened” or “made open.” The compound patterned early in Middle English as un- + lekian, and subsequently evolved through the historical shift of the vowel in the stressed syllable of lock, leading to contemporary pronunciations. The earliest written attestations of unlock as a verb date to the 14th–15th centuries; the noun form lock predates it, with “unlocking” appearing in later centuries as passive and active constructions expanded. By the 18th and 19th centuries, unlock grew common in both literal (doors, chests) and figurative senses (unlocking potential, opportunities). In modern usage, unlock preserves the sense of removing constraints or exposing access, both physical and abstract, and the pronunciation has stabilized around the two-syllable pattern with stress on the second syllable when used as a past tense/participial form.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "unlocked" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "unlocked"
-ked sounds
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