reveal
Americanverb (used with object)
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reveals,
present (3rd person singular)
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revealed,
past participle, past
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revealing
present participle
noun
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reveals
plural
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an act or instance of revealing; disclosure.
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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.
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Architecture.
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the part of the jamb of a window or door opening between the outer wall surface and the window or door frame.
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the whole jamb of an opening between the outer and inner surfaces of a wall.
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the framework or edge of an automobile window.
verb
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(may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to disclose (a secret); divulge
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to expose to view or show (something concealed)
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(of God) to disclose (divine truths) either directly or through the medium of prophets, etc
noun
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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revealabilitynoun
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revealablenessnoun
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revealernoun
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revealingnessnoun
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revealmentnoun
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prerevealverb (used with object)
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half-revealedadjective
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nonrevealingadjective
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revealableadjective
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revelativeadjective
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self-revealedadjective
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unrevealableadjective
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unrevealedadjective
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unrevealingadjective
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revealedlyadverb
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revealinglyadverb
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unrevealinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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revealsimple
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revealssimple
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have revealedperfect
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has revealedperfect
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am revealingprogressive
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are revealingprogressive
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is revealingprogressive
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have been revealingperfect progressive
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has been revealingperfect progressive
Past
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revealedsimple
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had revealedperfect
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was revealingprogressive
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were revealingprogressive
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had been revealingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of reveal
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”; see vale)
Explanation
When you make something visible or make it public information, you reveal it. For example, if you want to plan a picnic, wait until forecasters reveal the weather that is predicted. The verb reveal comes from the Latin word revelare meaning "unveil," like when you take off your hat to reveal your new haircut, or when you reveal information about your past that will shock or amuse your friends. You might also be familiar with the noun form of reveal, makeover show-speak for the moment viewers see the newly renovated room or someone's dramatic new look, as in saving the reveal for the end of the show so people keep watching.
Vocabulary lists containing reveal
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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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.
See Examples For:
Now, Jenner is seemingly once again debating selling the home, with property records revealing that it has once again been swiped off the market, Realtor.com can exclusively reveal.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
“As tides change and sand erodes over time, it is common for military ordnance to reveal itself at this location,” the post stated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
"It's not a gender reveal bro, you just got cornrows!"
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Those measurements could reveal not only how quickly the window for planet formation closes, but also which regions of a disk are capable of producing different types of planets before their gas supply disappears.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026
It creaked opened to reveal a spiral stairway, covered with dust and grime.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
"A storm reveals itself in the faint natural signals it emits and in the echoes returned by the signals we send to prove it," she said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
Since then, I’ve baked the cake for countless weddings, birthdays and gender reveals.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
The story reveals that Collins helped secure the company funds while Kao used shell companies to make large donations to Collins’ super PAC.
From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2026
Adlakha points to filmmakers such as Assam's Rima Das and Meghalaya's Dominic Sangma whose work, he says, reveals "how complex and multifaceted the idea of Indian cinema happens to be".
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
"We're waiting for one more guest," Sophia reveals with a smile.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
OpenAI will not release its newest artificial intelligence model, known as Astra 6.1, after internal testing by the ChatGPT-maker revealed it did not meet safety standards, the company confirmed Monday.
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
Swift offers her comfort to Johnson, who is revealed to be his latest victim.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
But the son has never been revealed to the public and nor was he recognised by the committee of 21 Babiito clan members who choose the king and eventually selected Kijanangoma.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
A fourth customer, revealed in July, is speculated by some analysts to be the U.S.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
A glance at a hall clock revealed that it was half past noon exactly.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Now, Jenner is seemingly once again debating selling the home, with property records revealing that it has once again been swiped off the market, Realtor.com can exclusively reveal.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
He said mushroom spotting can transform an ordinary walk into an adventure, revealing colourful and unusual species that many people pass by without noticing.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
On Wednesday, the late-night “Gutfeld!” co-host shared a clip on Instagram in which she surprised the audience with a twirl and lift of her blouse, revealing a pregnant belly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
With recent purchasing managers’ surveys revealing unexpectedly strong U.S. private-sector activity, investors have ramped up their expectations that the Fed could raise rates again next month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Without a word, she lifted the lid, revealing a heap of postcards.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
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.
