To unload means to remove items from a vehicle or container where they've been carried. After a family returns from the grocery store, someone needs to unload all the bags from the car. A delivery truck unloads packages at each stop along its route. Workers at a shipping dock unload cargo containers from massive ships that have crossed the ocean.

The word can also mean getting rid of something you don't want anymore, often quickly or with relief. A store might unload merchandise that isn't selling by putting it on clearance. Someone might try to unload their old bicycle by selling it at a yard sale. When used this way, unload suggests the person is eager to be done with whatever they're getting rid of.

In another sense, people sometimes unload their feelings or problems by talking about them at length. If your friend had a frustrating day and starts telling you everything that went wrong, they're unloading their troubles. Listening kindly, and asking if they want advice or just someone to hear them, can help.

The opposite of unload is load, which means to put things into a vehicle or container for carrying.