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
-
are disclosingprogressive
-
am disclosingprogressive
-
is disclosingprogressive
-
have been disclosingperfect progressive
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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.
Officials didn’t disclose the financial terms of the deal or how many aircraft were being bought.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
The privacy and data protection watchdog said there had been "deliberate misuse of highly sensitive personal information and an offer to disclose it for financial gain".
From BBC • Jun. 17, 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
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
I did not fully disclose my situation, but did say that Dr. Trefusis was in the city, too, and recovering from a long fever.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
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.
