disclose
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
to make (information) known
-
to allow to be seen; lay bare
Synonym Usage
See reveal.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
disclosesimple
-
disclosessimple
-
have disclosedperfect
-
has disclosedperfect
-
am disclosingprogressive
-
are disclosingprogressive
-
is disclosingprogressive
-
have been disclosingperfect progressive
-
has been disclosingperfect progressive
Past
-
disclosedsimple
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had disclosedperfect
-
was disclosingprogressive
-
were disclosingprogressive
-
had been disclosingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disclose
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English disclosen, desclosen, from Old French desclos-, stem of desclore, equivalent to des- dis- 1 + clore “to close,” from Latin claudere; see close
Explanation
Disclose means to reveal or expose information that has previously been kept a secret — like a politician might be forced to disclose his finances or former scandals while running for office. When a politician, corporate executive, or celebrity announces that he or she has something to disclose, the public listens. They know that the information they're about to hear was kept secret for a reason. Something incriminating or juicy is about to be revealed, like a secret affair or plummeting company profits.
Vocabulary lists containing disclose
Case Closed: Clud, Clus
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A Christmas Carol
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The Launch of Sputnik 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company doesn’t disclose its total storage volumes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
The arbitrator also found that Ghaffar failed to disclose or receive authorization for contracts between Innoveo and Paulson entities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
The state agency said it could not disclose the home county of the person but confirmed the infected person lived and worked in Northern California.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
Butler’s measure would also compel justices to disclose more information about large stock transactions, outside sources of income and sponsored travel.
From Salon • Jun. 16, 2026
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2012, researchers from Harvard University used MRI scans to look inside the brain and ask: What happens when we disclose information?
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
