divulge
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Synonym Usage
See reveal.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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divulgementnoun
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divulgencenoun
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divulgernoun
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undivulgingadjective
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nondivulgingadjective
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undivulgedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has divulgedperfect 3rd person singular
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have divulgedperfect
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am divulgingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been divulgingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are divulgingprogressive
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is divulgingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been divulgingperfect progressive
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divulgessingular 3rd person
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divulgingparticiple
Past
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had divulgedperfect
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had been divulgingperfect progressive
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were divulgingprogressive plural
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was divulgingprogressive singular
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divulgedparticiple
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divulgedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of divulge
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin dīvulgāre, equivalent to dī- di- 2 + vulgāre “to make general or common, to spread” ( vulg(us) “the masses” + -āre infinitive suffix)
Explanation
If you've been sneaking around with your best friend's boyfriend, that's probably one secret you don't want to divulge, because revealing that tidbit of information will probably cut your friendship short. Divulge often precedes the word secret, because it means to reveal something, and that something is often of a personal or private nature. A gossip columnist's job is to divulge which celebrities are secretly dating and which ones have been caught in embarrassing situations. Although the word comes from the Latin word for making something public to the masses, it can also be used to describe information passed from one person to another. For example, a mother could divulge to her daughter that she was adopted.
Vocabulary lists containing divulge
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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.
Bolter declined to divulge more about his conversation with the FBI, which has not been previously reported, but allegations from Bolter’s 2020 affidavit were central to some conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
From Salon • Jun. 12, 2026
It wouldn’t be fair to divulge its details to those who are unfamiliar with the grisly tale, because it provides “Kenrex” with a dramatically, not to mention emotionally, satisfying conclusion.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
He promised to "never divulge anything" marked as "sensitive" information or even that he knew such information.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
The bot’s final product is exactly that: an essay that pretends to divulge, to confess, to promise, and to portray.
From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026
I promise not to divulge her secrets, but for the first time, I ask her to return the favor.
From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez
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.
