unfurl

[uhn-furl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unfurl ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to spread or shake out from a furled state, as a sail or a flag; unfold.

verb (used without object)

to become unfurled.

Origin of unfurl

First recorded in 1635–45; un-² + furl

Related formsun·furl·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for unfurl

unwind, unfold, unroll, unpack, open, spread, develop, display, expand

Examples from the Web for unfurl

Contemporary Examples of unfurl

As the Boston tragedy continues to unfurl, things will likely continue to get worse before finally taking a turn for the better.
All Hail The Onion: The Fake News Site’s Very Good Week
Tricia Romano
April 20, 2013
How we love that word—cue the trumpets, unfurl the banners, cast a golden light upon the White House.
Obama’s Phony Bipartisan Pick: Chuck Hagel for Defense
Matt Latimer
January 8, 2013
An impromptu plan arose: gather for coffee and brunch at Jeans-Jacques, then unfurl the banner.
Putin's Violent Crackdown
Anna Nemtsova
May 8, 2012

Historical Examples of unfurl

Softly the folded flower petals of the heart began to unfurl.
Ernest Linwood
Caroline Lee Hentz
These sails are frequently made to furl and unfurl like a fan.
Travels in China, Containing Descriptions, Observations, and Comparisons, Made and Collected in the Course of a Short Residence at the Imperial Palace of Yuen-Min-Yuen, and on a Subsequent Journey through the Country from Pekin to Canton
John Barrow
Unfurl the banner of the Prophet in front of the gate of the Seraglio.
Halil the Pedlar
Mr Jkai
We are going to unfurl the banner of peace and bury the hatchet.
Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School
Jessie Graham Flower
He was urged to unfurl the standard of the Prophet, and to appeal to the religious fervour and fanaticism of the army.
The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay
Lord Eversley

British Dictionary definitions for unfurl

unfurl

verb

to unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unfurl

1640s, from un- (2) "opposite of" + furl (v.). Related: unfurled, unfurling.