EXTRICATE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does extricate mean? 

• EXTRICATE (verb)
  The verb EXTRICATE has 1 sense:

1. release from entanglement of difficulty

  Familiarity information: EXTRICATE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXTRICATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they extricate    ... he / she / it extricates   
Past simple: extricated   
Past participle: extricated   
-ing form: extricating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Release from entanglement of difficulty

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

disencumber; disentangle; extricate; untangle

Context example:

I cannot extricate myself from this task

Hypernyms (to "extricate" is one way to...):

disengage; free (free or remove obstruction from)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

extrication (the act of releasing from a snarled or tangled condition)

 Context examples 

Instantly I began to extricate myself and crawl back again, with what speed and silence I could manage, to the more open portion of the wood.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"I do," extricating myself from restraint rapidly and completely.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This accomplished, he pried gently and carefully, loosening the jaws a bit at a time, while Matt, a bit at a time, extricated White Fang's mangled neck.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Cold, want, and fatigue were the least pains which I was destined to endure; I was cursed by some devil and carried about with me my eternal hell; yet still a spirit of good followed and directed my steps and when I most murmured would suddenly extricate me from seemingly insurmountable difficulties.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Mr. Elton looked as if he did not very well know what answer to make; which was exactly the case; for though very much gratified by the kind care of such a fair lady, and not liking to resist any advice of her's, he had not really the least inclination to give up the visit;—but Emma, too eager and busy in her own previous conceptions and views to hear him impartially, or see him with clear vision, was very well satisfied with his muttering acknowledgment of its being very cold, certainly very cold, and walked on, rejoicing in having extricated him from Randalls, and secured him the power of sending to inquire after Harriet every hour of the evening.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He could not then hasten to England himself, to extricate you from the snare into which you had fallen, but he implored Mr. Mason to lose no time in taking steps to prevent the false marriage.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)