uncover
Americanverb (used with object)
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uncovers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
uncovered,
past participle, past
-
uncovering
present participle
-
to lay bare; disclose; reveal.
-
to remove the cover or covering from.
-
to remove a hat from (the head).
verb (used without object)
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uncovers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
uncovered,
past participle, past
-
uncovering
present participle
-
to remove a cover or covering.
-
to take off one's hat or other head covering as a gesture of respect.
verb
-
(tr) to remove the cover, cap, top, etc, from
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(tr) to reveal or disclose
to uncover a plot
-
to take off (one's head covering), esp as a mark of respect
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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uncoversimple
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uncoverssimple
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have uncoveredperfect
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has uncoveredperfect
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am uncoveringprogressive
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are uncoveringprogressive
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is uncoveringprogressive
-
have been uncoveringperfect progressive
-
has been uncoveringperfect progressive
Past
-
uncoveredsimple
-
had uncoveredperfect
-
was uncoveringprogressive
-
were uncoveringprogressive
-
had been uncoveringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of uncover
First recorded in 1250–1300, uncover is from the Middle English word uncoveren. See un- 2, cover
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:
Sir David Attenborough has promised to "venture even further" and uncover marine life that is "more precious than we ever realised" in Blue Planet III.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Luke Ihnen, another of Pike’s lawyers, said preserving the evidence was part of the effort to uncover what went wrong last week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Proposition 38 would authorize the state to issue $8.4 billion in bonds to fund immunology and immunotherapy research to uncover treatments that help the immune system fight diseases such as cancer more effectively.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Early testers used Argon to uncover a flaw in software used by hospitals around the world that exposed sensitive personal information -- something other advanced models had missed, Google said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
“I have so far failed to uncover that fact.”
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Michael Sheen uncovers claims of conspiracy, complicity and denial over alleged toxic 'forever chemical' contamination in south Wales.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Individualized investigation, rather than annual paperwork, is what uncovers discrimination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Riley’s previous feature, 2018’s “Sorry to Bother You,” was about a telemarketer who uncovers a larger corporate conspiracy.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
It also uncovers previously hidden populations of near Earth asteroids, which is valuable information for planetary defense efforts.
From Science Daily ● May 14, 2026
Jay uncovers her face, straightens up, and looks at us.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Though sometimes the target is a single vehicle, authorities have also uncovered larger theft operations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
During an excavation last month, archaeologists and volunteers uncovered an 18th Century culvert that appeared to have been partly made using stone from the torn down monastery.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Refuting claims that the exits were related to safety, the AI firm said an internal probe had uncovered "a significant breach of trust" beyond what they had disclosed.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Although many fathers in the study died from preventable causes, researchers also uncovered a seemingly contradictory finding.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Back in the huts, the water would sit uncovered for days, attracting dirt and flies.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
In signing the bill, Newsom emphasized the role of journalism in uncovering scandal and wrongdoing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
His teams have inspected restaurants and other food businesses, uncovering pest infestations, poor hygiene and expired food.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Even if the acquisition is helping improve production quality, Boeing isn’t uncovering hidden financial upside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Under a makeshift roof offering protection from the monsoon rains, the pair are slowly uncovering the giant neck of a fossil they hope to confirm soon as Thailand's newest dinosaur.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
The teacher had not received any credit from his superiors for uncovering the escape plot.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
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.
