extricate

UK: /ˈɛkstrɪkeɪt/ US: /ˈɛkstrɪˌkeɪt/ ,(ek′stri kāt′)

Inflections of 'extricate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

extricates

v 3rd person singular

extricating

v pres p

extricated

v past

extricated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•tri•cate /ˈɛkstrɪˌkeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to free or release from something that tangles or traps;
   disengage:
   The fox tried desperately to extricate himself from the trap.

ex•tri•ca•tion, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ex•tri•cate  (ek′stri kāt′), v.t., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to free or release from entanglement;
   disengage:
   to extricate someone from a dangerous situation.
2. Chemistry to liberate (gas) from combination, as in a chemical process.

• Latin extricātus (past participle of extricāre), equivalent. to ex- ex-¹ + tric(ae) perplexities + -ātus -ate¹
• 1605–15

ex′tri•ca′tion, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. loose, rescue, deliver, save, recover.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

extricate / ˈɛkstrɪˌkeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to remove or free from complication, hindrance, or difficulty; disentangle

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin extrīcāre to disentangle, from ex-¹ + trīcae trifles, vexations

ˈextricable adjective

ˌextriˈcation noun

USAGE
extract