reveal

[ri-veel]

verb (used with object)

1. to make known; disclose; divulge.

   She hounded me into revealing what I knew.

   Synonyms: proclaim, announce, tell, impart, publish, unveil
   Antonyms: hide, conceal

2. to lay open to view; display; exhibit.

   Synonyms: proclaim, announce, tell, impart, publish, unveil
   Antonyms: hide, conceal

noun

1. 1. an act or instance of revealing; disclosure.

   2. an act or instance of showing or revealing something surprising for the first time.

      Stay tuned for the renovation's big reveal!

      The big reveal of the season was that the main character was the murderer.

2. Architecture.

   1. the part of the jamb of a window or door opening between the outer wall surface and the window or door frame.

   2. the whole jamb of an opening between the outer and inner surfaces of a wall.

3. the framework or edge of an automobile window.

reveal

/ rɪˈviːl /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to disclose (a secret); divulge

2. to expose to view or show (something concealed)

3. (of God) to disclose (divine truths) either directly or through the medium of prophets, etc

noun

1. architect the vertical side of an opening in a wall, esp the side of a window or door between the frame and the front of the wall

Other Word Forms

• revealable adjective
• revealability noun
• revealment noun
• revealer noun
• revealableness noun
• revealedly adverb
• revealingly adverb
• revealingness noun
• revelative adjective
• half-revealed adjective
• nonrevealing adjective
• prereveal verb (used with object)
• self-revealed adjective
• unrevealable adjective
• unrevealed adjective
• unrevealing adjective
• unrevealingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reveal¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) Middle English revelen, from Middle French reveler, from Latin revēlāre “to unveil” ( re-, veil ); reveal ( for defs. 4, 5 ) derivative of obsolete revale “to lower,” from Old French revaler ( re- re- + (a)valer “to lower,” verbal derivative of the phrase à val “down”; vale )

Word History and Origins

Origin of reveal¹

C14: from Old French reveler , from Latin revēlāre to unveil, from _re- + vēlum a _veil

Synonym Study

Reveal, disclose, divulge share the meaning of making known something previously concealed or secret. To reveal is to uncover as if by drawing away a veil: The fog lifted and revealed the harbor. To disclose is to lay open and thereby invite inspection: to disclose the plans of an organization. To divulge is to communicate, sometimes to a large number of people, what was at first intended to be private, confidential, or secret: to divulge the terms of a contract.

Example Sentences

Southern California air regulators issued violations to two foundries in southeast Los Angeles County after air sampling revealed elevated levels of a highly toxic metal near the facilities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The altitude and speed revealed she was cycling uphill and accelerating very slightly.

Read more on BBC

The teaser also revealed that the next chapter of the Regency-era romance will be released in two parts on Jan. 29 and Feb. 26.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The team plans to explore whether applying the minimum change principle to other quantum measures might reveal other solutions.

Read more on Science Daily

The arrests of Cash and Berry sparked concerns of a major security breach as Cash was revealed to be a parliamentary researcher reportedly sharing close ties with senior Conservative lawmakers.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• acknowledge 
• admit 
• affirm 
• announce 
• concede 
• confess 
• declare 
• divulge 
• explain 
• expose 
• inform 
• publish 
• report 
• tell