melepas

Melepas is a verb in the Indonesian language that means to untie, remove, detach, or release something that is attached, bound, or held in place. It is formed with the prefix me- attached to the root lepas, which broadly denotes something that is loose or free. As a transitive verb, melepas typically takes a direct object.

Melepas is used in a variety of contexts, including physical actions and removals. Examples include melepas tali (to untie a rope), melepas kancing (to unbutton or unfasten a button), melepas helm (to take off a helmet), and melepas jaket (to remove a jacket). It can also describe releasing something from captivity or restraint, such as melepas burung dari sangkar (releasing a bird from its cage).

In addition to its literal uses, melepas can appear in metaphorical or extended senses related to letting go or freeing from constraints, though more common expressions for such ideas may use related forms like melepaskan, depending on nuance and register. Melepas often emphasizes the physical action of removing something that is attached or restrained, while melepaskan tends to be used for broader releases or letting go in a wider sense.

Etymology traces melepas to the root lepas, meaning loose or free, with the me- prefix denoting a verb-forming, active action. This pattern is common in Indonesian, where melepas contrasts with related verbs such as melepaskan (to release, to let go, often in a more general or abstract sense) and membuka (to open). See also lepas, melepaskan, membuka.

Melepas is widely used in everyday Indonesian, in both spoken and written language, across contexts ranging from casual conversation to formal instruction.