unveil
Americanverb (used with object)
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unveils,
present (3rd person singular)
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unveiled,
past participle, past
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unveiling
present participle
verb (used without object)
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unveils,
present (3rd person singular)
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unveiled,
past participle, past
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unveiling
present participle
verb
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(tr) to remove the cover or shroud from, esp in the ceremonial unveiling of a monument, etc
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to remove the veil from (one's own or another person's face)
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(tr) to make (something secret or concealed) known or public; divulge; reveal
Usage
What does unveil mean? Unveil means to reveal or uncover something. This can be literal, such as by taking a veil or other physical covering off of something, as in The sculptor tugged the sheet away to unveil her masterpiece. It can also be used figuratively—often in a way that likens the action to physically uncovering something. In this sense, it can mean to present something publicly for the first time, as in They plan to unveil the new model at the convention next month. Or it can mean to uncover something that has been kept secret or hidden, as in Her investigative reporting unveiled a conspiracy. Things that have been revealed can be described with the adjective unveiled, as in Here are the first photos of the newly unveiled design concept. The noun unveiling can refer to an event where this happens, or the act of doing it, as in The plans will be revealed at the big unveiling next week. Example: The company unveiled its new phone design last week after months of speculation.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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unveilsimple
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unveilssimple
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have unveiledperfect
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has unveiledperfect
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am unveilingprogressive
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are unveilingprogressive
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is unveilingprogressive
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have been unveilingperfect progressive
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has been unveilingperfect progressive
Past
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unveiledsimple
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had unveiledperfect
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was unveilingprogressive
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were unveilingprogressive
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had been unveilingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of unveil
Explanation
Unveil is a dramatic verb we use when we uncover or reveal something for the first time, often in front of a large gathering or as part of a publicity campaign. A city's mayor might unveil a new monument by removing an actual veil (cloth covering) from it. This is often done with great flourish and accompanied by a drum roll. In a more metaphorical sense, a software company might unveil — that is, publicly announce — a new video game or business application.
Vocabulary lists containing unveil
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "U"
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for September 19–25, 2020
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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:
Apple is expected to unveil the Ultra in September, launching the company into the extra-premium smartphone market.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
As trial approaches, Mangione's team has yet to unveil its full strategy.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Big banks kicked off earnings season last week, and now the main event for many investors begins: Two of the Magnificent Seven, Alphabet and Tesla, unveil quarterly results this afternoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Attention now turns to Apple's September event and whether it will finally unveil its long-anticipated move into foldables.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Or, to put it more positively, when a writer wants to negate an unfamiliar proposition, she should unveil the negation in two stages: 1.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Mattel unveils a pink Angel Reese No. 5 jersey on the doll with signature Reebok basketball shoes during a full-circle moment following her messy departure from Chicago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Apple unveils new phones and other hardware each fall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Microsoft unveils seven new AI models at its Build conference, competing with OpenAI and Anthropic after ending their exclusive partnership.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
“Trump unveils 11 potential Supreme Court nominees,” Politico, May 18, 2016.
From Slate ● May 13, 2026
Dr. Bigelow unveils his plaster life mask of Phineas.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Since Tesla unveiled its first ride-hailing operation last year, the company has relied on Model Y electric vehicles to carry out trips.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
As packages are unveiled and sold, available inventory on the website fluctuates — which means fans can spend a lot of time checking and rechecking.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Only a week ago Braun unveiled the Water Watch Center, a joint effort between DEF CON Franklin and the National Rural Water Association, along with five cybersecurity firms already familiar with the water sector.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
Harvey yesterday unveiled a major update, Harvey II, that incorporates memory into the platform.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
In just about a week the team would be officially unveiled to the public.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Its latest upgrade focuses on memory, with the four-year-old company unveiling a new version of its platform that will remember the history and preferences of its users.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
At his unveiling in Paris, Zidane was keen to highlight the time he had spent waiting on the sidelines and preparing for the job.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Andy Burnham told the inaugural meeting of his cabinet Tuesday that he would lead a "cost-of-living government", after unveiling an energy tax cut on his first full day as prime minister.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Musk pushed back its unveiling in April, citing concerns that rivals could copy the design.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Since the unveiling of the bill, there had been phone calls and mail and huge editorials about invasion of privacy and people’s differing definitions of what a “threat” to society actually was.
From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau
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.
