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

In our highly polarized politics, small deviations from the norm in race results could reveal factors that prove decisive next year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The answer often reveals how much solitude and socialization a person needs.

Read more on MarketWatch

He also reveals how the York sound—full, warm and resonant—continues to enchant tuba players and enthusiasts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The review also revealed that while several foods and supplements appear effective, the quality of most existing research remains low.

Read more on Science Daily

In the summer, Heathrow Airport revealed its £49bn plans to build a third runway and accompanying infrastructure, including a new road tunnel under the airport, and widening the M25 motorway between junctions 14 and 15.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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