To remove cargo or goods from a vehicle, ship, or container. The workers began to unload the boxes from the truck.
To relieve oneself of something burdensome or unwanted. She needed to unload her worries to a friend.
To remove the ammunition from a firearm, rendering it incapable of firing. Soldiers must unload their rifles before entering the barracks.
Computing: to remove a program, driver, or data from active memory or from a device. The technician unloaded the driver before rebooting the computer.
Informal: to sell or dispose of something quickly, especially when it is unwanted or losing value. Investors rushed to unload their shares after the profit warning.