unfold Hear it!

unfold Definition

un·fold (-fōld′)

transitive verb

  1. to open and spread out (something folded)
  2. to make known or lay open to view, esp. in stages or little by little; reveal, disclose, display, or explain

Etymology: ME unfolden < OE unfealdan < un-, un- + fealdan, to fold

intransitive verb

  1. to become unfolded; open out or open up
  2. to develop fully

unfold Synonyms

unfold

v.

  1. Unfurl

    shake out, straighten, release, display, unwind, spread out, uncurl, unwrap, unroll, give to the breeze, reel out, unbend, open, flatten, loosen, unroll, uncrease.

    Antonyms fold*, roll, lap.

  2. Reveal

    disclose, uncover, discover, elucidate, explain, make known, publish, expose, announce, particularize, explicate; see also reveal 1.

    Antonyms hide*, obscure, conceal.

unfold Usage Examples

Used with why or when

  • when: And the worlds continued to exist and unfold even when players went offline.
  • which: In addition, the card is unfolded which means it uses half the paper of a normal greeting card.

Object

  • saga: Enough has already been written on this affair but for anyone interested in the unfolding saga go here.
  • drama: I could go on: speak of unfolding drama, epic quality, individual character on display.
  • tragedy: Conservation successes document that we should not be passive by-standers in the unfolding tragedy of biodiversity loss and species extinction.
  • mystery: Modeling that heart connection for the world through arts unfolds mysteries.
  • story: At the center of his new work is the concept of the narrative, the unfolding story, the moving picture.
  • miracle: Your campers you see fight CHIPCO International the unfolding miracle of.

Preposition: on

  • screen: Kim Newman approves Selected reviews Timecode Mike Figgis ' Timecode unfolds on four screens in real time.

Preposition: against

  • backdrop: Shocking events unfold against a backdrop of meticulously observed religious services.

Modifying Another Word

  • slowly: Its branches are budding and the apple blossoms slowly unfold.
  • gradually: However, a different emphasis for the season of Advent has gradually unfolded in much of the rest of the church.
  • gently: The pace of the many short scenes doesn't allow for the story and more importantly the characters to gently unfold.
  • differently: If the race unfolds differently than you expected modify your strategies accordingly.

Preposition: at

  • pace: The mystery unfolds at a languid pace, dropping a few red herrings along the way.

Infinitive complement

  • reveal: This folded work unfolds to reveal a series of texts.

Preposition: in

  • front: Out there, I watched the drama of the semi-final unfold in front of me.
  • fashion: A brilliant supporting cast exaggerate those defects Clark chose to make his obsessions in order for events to unfold in a suitably arresting fashion.
  • manner: God created the universe so that events would unfold in this exact manner.

Preposition: of

  • protein: The instrument will be used to follow large-scale unfolding of a short protein triggered by breaking a disulfide bond.