Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense reveals, present participle revealing, past tense, past participle revealed
1. verb
To reveal something means to make people aware of it.
She has refused to reveal the whereabouts of her daughter. [VERB noun]
A survey of the British diet has revealed that a growing number of people are overweight. [VERB that]
After the fire, it was revealed that North Carolina officials had never inspectedthe factory. [it beVERB-ed that]
The X-rays reveal how the arrangement of atoms changes. [VERB wh]
[Also beV-ed as n]
Synonyms: make known, disclose, give away, make public More Synonyms of reveal
2. verb
If you reveal something that has been out of sight, you uncover it so that people can see it.
A grey carpet was removed to reveal the original pine floor. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: show, display, bare, exhibit More Synonyms of reveal
reveal in British English
(rɪˈviːl)
verb(transitive)
1. (may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
to disclose (a secret); divulge
2.
to expose to view or show (something concealed)
3.
(of God) to disclose (divine truths) either directly or through the medium of prophets, etc
noun
4.
the act of exposing something that has been concealed, esp as the climax of a theatrical performance or magic trick
5. architecture
the vertical side of an opening in a wall, esp the side of a window or door between the frame and the front of the wall
Derived forms
revealable (reˈvealable)
adjective
revealability (reˌvealaˈbility)
noun
revealer (reˈvealer)
noun
revealment (reˈvealment)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French reveler, from Latin revēlāre to unveil, from re- + vēlum a veil
reveal in American English1
(rɪˈvil)
verb transitive
1.
to make known (something hidden or kept secret); disclose; divulge
2.
to expose to view; show; exhibit; display
3. Theology
to make known by supernatural or divine means
SYNONYMY NOTE: reveal1 implies a making known of something hidden or secret, as if by drawing back a veil[to reveal one's identity]; disclose suggests a laying open, as to inspection, of what has previously been concealed [she refuses to disclose her intentions]; divulge suggests that what has been disclosed should properly have been kept secret or private[do not divulge the contents of this letter]; tell1 may also imply a breach of confidence [kiss and tell] but more commonly suggests the making known of necessary or requested information[tell me what to do]; betray implies either faithlessness in divulging something [betrayed by an informer] or inadvertence in revealing something [his blush betrayed embarrassment]
OPPOSITES: conceal, hide
Derived forms
revealable (reˈvealable)
adjective
revealment (reˈvealment)
noun
Word origin
ME revelen < OFr reveler < L revelare, lit., to draw back the veil < re-, back + velum, veil
reveal in American English2
(rɪˈvil)
noun
1.
that part of the side of an opening for a window or door which is between the outer edge of the opening and the frame of the window or door
2.
the entire side of such an opening; jamb
Word origin
< ME revalen, to bring down < MFr revaler < re-, back + avaler, to lower < aval, downward < à (L ad, to) + val, vale1
Examples of 'reveal' in a sentence
reveal
Back inside her room, she prised the case apart to reveal a small key on a chain.
Mark Burnell CHAMELEON (2002)
Or perhaps he was hesitant to reveal any limits to their Harshini power.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2002)
It took an incident of extreme force to reveal how far down the road she had gone.
Stewart, Michael COMPULSION (2002)
Its seat was tilted up on hinges to reveal a narrow passage down into the bowels of the ship.
James W. Hall BLACKWATER SOUND (2002)
Word lists with
reveal
architectural features
In other languages
reveal
British English: reveal /rɪˈviːl/ VERB
To reveal something means to make people aware of it.
Only future research can reveal the answer to this mystery.
American English: reveal
Arabic: يَكْشِفُ عن
Brazilian Portuguese: revelar
Chinese: 展现
Croatian: otkriti
Czech: prozradit
Danish: afsløre
Dutch: onthullen
European Spanish: revelar
Finnish: paljastaa
French: révéler
German: enthüllen
Greek: φανερώνω
Italian: rivelare
Japanese: 明らかにする
Korean: 드러내다
Norwegian: avsløre
Polish: ujawnić
European Portuguese: revelar
Romanian: a divulga
Russian: открывать
Latin American Spanish: revelar
Swedish: avslöja
Thai: เปิดเผย
Turkish: açıklamak ifşa
Ukrainian: розкривати
Vietnamese: tiết lộ
Chinese translation of 'reveal'
reveal
(rɪˈviːl)
vt
(= make known) 透露 (tòulù)
(= make visible) 展现(現) (zhǎnxiàn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to disclose or divulge (a secret)
She has refused to reveal her daughter's whereabouts.
Synonyms
make known
disclose
Neither side would disclose details of the transaction.
give away
make public
tell
The facts tell a very different story.
announce
The couple were planning to announce their engagement.
publish
The paper did not publish his name for legal reasons.
broadcast
Don't broadcast your business outside the family.
leak
He revealed who had leaked a confidential police report.
communicate
The result will be communicated to parents.
proclaim
He continues to proclaim his innocence.
betray
She studied his face, but it betrayed nothing.
give out
let out
impart
the ability to impart knowledge and command respect
divulge
He was charged with divulging state secrets.
let slip
let on
He knows who the culprit is, but he is not letting on.
take the wraps off (informal)
blow wide open (slang)
get off your chest (informal)
Opposites
keep secret
,
hide
,
conceal
,
cover up
,
keep quiet about
,
sweep under the carpet (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to expose to view or show (something concealed)
A grey carpet was removed to reveal the pine floor.
Synonyms
show
She had enough time to show her gratitude.
display
She displayed her wound.
bare
exhibit
He has exhibited signs of anxiety and stress.
unveil
Mr Werner unveiled his new strategy this week.
uncover
Auditors said they had uncovered evidence of fraud.
manifest
He's only convincing when that inner fury manifests itself.
unearth
No evidence has yet been unearthed.
unmask
Elliott unmasked the master spy and traitor.
lay bare
bring to light
expose to view
Opposites
hide
,
conceal
,
cover up
Additional synonyms
in the sense of announce
Definition
to proclaim
The couple were planning to announce their engagement.
Synonyms
make known,
tell,
report,
reveal,
publish,
declare,
advertise,
broadcast,
disclose,
post,
tweet,
intimate,
proclaim,
trumpet,
make public,
publicize,
divulge,
promulgate,
propound,
shout from the rooftops (informal),
give out
in the sense of betray
Definition
to disclose (a secret or confidence) treacherously
She studied his face, but it betrayed nothing.
Synonyms
give away,
tell,
show,
reveal,
expose,
disclose,
uncover,
manifest,
divulge,
blurt out,
unmask,
lay bare,
tell on,
let slip,
evince (formal)
in the sense of broadcast
Definition
to make widely known throughout an area
Don't broadcast your business outside the family.
Synonyms
make public,
report,
announce,
publish,
spread,
advertise,
proclaim,
circulate,
disseminate,
promulgate,
shout from the rooftops (informal)
Synonyms of 'reveal'
reveal
Explore 'reveal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of communicate
Definition
to exchange (thoughts) or make known (information or feelings) by speech, writing, or other means
The result will be communicated to parents.
Synonyms
make known,
report,
announce,
reveal,
publish,
declare,
spread,
disclose,
pass on,
proclaim,
transmit,
convey,
impart,
divulge,
disseminate
in the sense of disclose
Definition
to make (information) known
Neither side would disclose details of the transaction.
Synonyms
make known,
tell,
reveal,
publish,
relate,
broadcast,
leak,
confess,
communicate,
unveil,
utter,
make public,
impart,
divulge,
out (informal),
let slip,
spill the beans about (informal),
cough (slang),
blow wide open (slang),
get off your chest (informal),
spill your guts about (slang)
in the sense of display
Definition
to reveal or make evident
She displayed her wound.
Synonyms
expose,
show,
reveal,
bare,
exhibit,
uncover,
lay bare,
expose to view
in the sense of divulge
Definition
to make known
He was charged with divulging state secrets.
Synonyms
make known,
tell,
reveal,
publish,
declare,
expose,
leak,
confess,
exhibit,
communicate,
spill (informal),
disclose,
proclaim,
betray,
uncover,
impart,
promulgate,
let slip,
blow wide open (slang),
get off your chest (informal),
cough (slang),
out (informal),
spill your guts about (slang)
in the sense of exhibit
Definition
to show (a quality or feeling)
He has exhibited signs of anxiety and stress.
Synonyms
show,
reveal,
display,
demonstrate,
air,
evidence,
express,
indicate,
disclose,
manifest,
evince (formal),
make clear or plain
in the sense of impart
Definition
to communicate (information or knowledge)
the ability to impart knowledge and command respect
Synonyms
communicate,
pass on,
convey,
tell,
reveal,
discover,
relate,
disclose,
divulge,
make known
in the sense of leak
Definition
to make (secret information) public, esp. deliberately
He revealed who had leaked a confidential police report.
Synonyms
disclose,
tell,
reveal,
pass on,
give away,
make public,
divulge,
let slip,
make known,
spill the beans (informal),
blab (informal),
let the cat out of the bag,
blow wide open (slang)
in the sense of let on
Definition
to reveal (a secret)
He knows who the culprit is, but he is not letting on.
Synonyms
reveal,
disclose,
say,
tell,
admit,
give away,
divulge,
let slip,
make known,
let the cat out of the bag (informal)
in the sense of manifest
Definition
to show by the way one behaves
He's only convincing when that inner fury manifests itself.
Synonyms
display,
show,
reveal,
establish,
express,
prove,
declare,
demonstrate,
expose,
exhibit,
set forth,
make plain,
evince (formal)
in the sense of proclaim
Definition
to indicate plainly
He continues to proclaim his innocence.
Synonyms
announce,
declare,
advertise,
show,
publish,
indicate,
blaze (abroad),
herald,
circulate,
trumpet,
affirm,
give out,
profess,
promulgate,
make known,
enunciate,
blazon (abroad),
shout from the housetops (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of publish
Definition
to announce formally or in public
The paper did not publish his name for legal reasons.
Synonyms
announce,
reveal,
declare,
spread,
advertise,
broadcast,
leak,
distribute,
communicate,
disclose,
proclaim,
circulate,
impart,
publicize,
divulge,
promulgate,
shout from the rooftops (informal),
blow wide open (slang)
in the sense of tell
The facts tell a very different story.
Synonyms
reveal,
show,
indicate,
disclose,
signify,
be evidence of
in the sense of uncover
Definition
to reveal or disclose
Auditors said they had uncovered evidence of fraud.
Synonyms
reveal,
find,
discover,
expose,
encounter,
turn up,
detect,
disclose,
unveil,
come across,
unearth,
dig up,
divulge,
chance on,
root out,
unmask,
lay bare,
make known,
blow the whistle on (informal),
bring to light,
smoke out,
take the wraps off,
blow wide open (slang),
stumble on or across
in the sense of unearth
Definition
to discover by searching
No evidence has yet been unearthed.
Synonyms
discover,
find,
reveal,
expose,
turn up,
uncover,
bring to light,
ferret out,
root up
in the sense of unmask
Definition
to expose or reveal the true nature or character of