divulge

[dih-vuhlj, dahy-]

verb (used with object)

divulged, divulging 

1. to disclose or reveal (something private, secret, or previously unknown).

divulge

/ daɪˈvʌldʒ /

verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to make known (something private or secret); disclose

Other Word Forms

• divulgement noun
• divulger noun
• nondivulging adjective
• undivulged adjective
• undivulging adjective
• divulgence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of divulge¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of divulge¹

C15: from Latin dīvulgāre, from _di- ² + vulgāre to spread among the people, from vulgus the common people

Synonym Study

See reveal.

Example Sentences

The House Oversight Committee requested Tuesday that the bank divulge certain records on Epstein, include information on more than 4,700 flagged SARs.

Read more on Salon

A U.S. court has, for now, blocked a rule in California requiring companies to divulge how changes in the climate put their business at risk.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet once divulged, her radiant inner life colors every utterance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get anyone to divulge who actually makes the pillows.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When restaurants couldn’t divulge their secret recipes, some attempts required a full reverse-engineering to figure them out — a specialty of L.A.-based recipe developer and food stylist Jasmyn Crawford.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• admit 
• blab 
• communicate 
• disclose 
• give away 
• leak 
• publish 
• reveal 
• uncover