A revelation is a surprising or interesting fact that is made known to people.
...the seemingly everlasting revelations about his private life. [+ about]
...the revelation that William had survived the initial attack.
Synonyms: disclosure, discovery, news, broadcast More Synonyms of revelation
2. variable noun
The revelationof something is the act of making it known.
...following the revelation of his affair with a former secretary. [+ of]
Further revelations are expected.
3. singular noun
If you say that something you experienced was arevelation, you are saying that it was very surprising or very good.
The noise, the buildings, the people, came as a revelation.
Degas's work had been a revelation to her.
4. variable noun
A divine revelation is a sign or explanation from God about his nature or purpose.
The whole system was based on divine revelation in the Scriptures.
Synonyms: sign, warning, omen, portent More Synonyms of revelation
More Synonyms of revelation
revelation in British English
(ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən)
noun
1.
the act or process of disclosing something previously secret or obscure, esp something true
2.
a fact disclosed or revealed, esp in a dramatic or surprising way
3. Christianity
a.
God's disclosure of his own nature and his purpose for humankind, esp through the words of human intermediaries
b.
something in which such a divine disclosure is contained, such as the Bible
Derived forms
revelational (ˌreveˈlational)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Church Latin revēlātiō from Latin revēlāre to reveal
Revelation in British English
(ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən)
noun
Also called: the Apocalypse, the Revelation of Saint John the Divine(popularly, often plural)
the last book of the New Testament, containing visionary descriptions of heaven, of conflicts between good and evil, and of the end of the world
revelation in American English
(ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən)
noun
1.
a revealing, or disclosing, of something
2.
something disclosed; disclosure; esp., a striking disclosure, as of something not previously known or realized
3. Theology
a.
communication, by a divinity or by divine agency, of divine truth or knowledge; specif., God's manifestation of the divinity or of the divine will to humanity
b.
an instance of this
c.
that which is so communicated, disclosed, or manifested
d.
something, as a writing or event, containing or showing such a communication, disclosure, or manifestation
4. [R-]
the last book of the New Testament, ascribed to John (in full The Revelation of Saint John the Divine); Apocalypse
, abbrev. Rev or Rv: also Revelations
Derived forms
revelator (ˈreveˌlator)
noun
revelatory (ˈrevelaˌtory) (ˈrɛvələˌtɔri)
adjective
Word origin
ME reuelacioun < OFr revelation < LL(Ec) revelatio < pp. of L revelare
Examples of 'revelation' in a sentence
revelation
And sometimes what you have conveyed has appeared in next week's newspapers, hardly a revelation.
Gaskin, Catherine THE AMBASSADOR'S WOMEN (2004)
Sarah subsided gingerly on to the sofa, waiting for she knew not quite what: the revelation of the threat.
Murray, Stephen DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION (2004)
Turning away, he tried to assess the impact of this revelation, feeding the information into the equation.
Mark Mills AMAGANSETT (2004)
The two years I have spent writing this book have been a continuous revelation to me.
Newbery, Linda RIDDLE ME THIS (2004)
Word lists with
revelation
Books of the New Testament
In other languages
revelation
British English: revelation NOUN
A revelation is a surprising or interesting fact that is made known to people.
...the seemingly everlasting revelations about his private life.
American English: revelation
Brazilian Portuguese: revelação
Chinese: 被透露的事实
European Spanish: revelación
French: révélation
German: Enthüllung
Italian: rivelazione
Japanese: 新事実
Korean: 폭로된 사실
European Portuguese: revelação
Latin American Spanish: revelación
Chinese translation of 'revelation'
revelation
(rɛvəˈleɪʃən)
n
(c) (= fact) 透露出来(來)的事 (tòulù chūlái de shì)
(s) (= surprise) 揭露 (jiēlù)
(c/u) (= disclosure)[of fact]揭露 (jiēlù)
Derived Forms
Revelationsn pl (in Bible) 启(啟)示录(錄) (Qǐshìlù)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of making known a truth which was previously secret
revelations about his private life
Synonyms
disclosure
unauthorised newspaper disclosures
discovery
The discovery that I already had a brother was a huge bombshell.
news
They still haven't had any news about the survivors.
broadcast
exposé
The movie is an exposé of prison conditions in the South.
announcement
the announcement of their engagement
publication
We have no comment regarding the publication of these photographs.
exposure
the exposure of Anthony Blunt as a former Soviet spy
leak
Serious leaks involving national security are likely to be investigated.
uncovering
confession
His confession was extracted under duress.
divulgence
2 (noun)
Definition
the act of making known a truth which was previously secret
the revelation of the much anticipated news
Synonyms
exhibition
He treated the fans to an exhibition of power and speed.
telling
communication
broadcasting
discovery
publication
exposure
exposure of the skin to sunlight
leaking
unveiling
uncovering
manifestation
the manifestation of grief
unearthing
giveaway
proclamation
his proclamation of the good news
exposition
an art exposition
3 (noun)
The whole system was based on a divine revelation.
Synonyms
sign
It is a sign of things to come.
warning
a warning of impending doom
omen
Her appearance at this moment is an omen of disaster.
portent
This is a frightening portent for the future.
presage
Soldiers used to believe a raven was a presage of coming battle.
forewarning
writing on the wall
We should have seen the writing on the wall and guessed what was coming.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of announcement
the announcement of their engagement
Synonyms
declaration,
report,
reporting,
publication,
revelation,
disclosure,
proclamation,
intimation,
promulgation,
divulgence
in the sense of confession
Definition
an admission of one's faults, sins, or crimes
His confession was extracted under duress.
Synonyms
admission,
revelation,
disclosure,
acknowledgment,
avowal,
divulgence,
exposure,
unbosoming
in the sense of discovery
Definition
the act of discovering
The discovery that I already had a brother was a huge bombshell.
Synonyms
finding out,
news,
announcement,
revelation,
disclosure,
realization
Synonyms of 'revelation'
revelation
Explore 'revelation' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of exposition
Definition
a large public exhibition
an art exposition
Synonyms
exhibition,
show,
fair,
display,
demonstration,
presentation,
expo (informal)
in the sense of exposure
Definition
the revealing of the truth about someone or something, esp. when it is shocking or scandalous
the exposure of Anthony Blunt as a former Soviet spy
Synonyms
revelation,
exposé,
uncovering,
disclosure,
airing,
manifestation,
detection,
divulging,
denunciation,
unmasking,
divulgence
in the sense of exposure
exposure of the skin to sunlight
Synonyms
uncovering,
showing,
display,
exhibition,
baring,
revelation,
presentation,
unveiling,
manifestation
in the sense of exposé
The movie is an exposé of prison conditions in the South.
Synonyms
exposure,
revelation,
uncovering,
disclosure,
divulgence
in the sense of leak
Definition
a disclosure of secret information
Serious leaks involving national security are likely to be investigated.
Synonyms
disclosure,
exposé,
exposure,
admission,
revelation,
uncovering,
betrayal,
unearthing,
divulgence
in the sense of manifestation
the manifestation of grief
Synonyms
display,
show,
exhibition,
expression,
demonstration,
appearance,
exposure,
revelation,
disclosure,
materialization
in the sense of news
Definition
information about such events, reported in the mass media
They still haven't had any news about the survivors.
Synonyms
information,
latest (informal),
report,
word,
story,
release,
account,
statement,
advice,
exposé,
intelligence,
scandal,
rumour,
leak,
revelation,
buzz,
gossip,
dirt (slang),
goss (informal),
disclosure,
bulletin,
dispatch,
gen (British, informal),
communiqué,
hearsay,
tidings,
news flash,
scuttlebutt (US, slang)
in the sense of omen
Definition
a thing or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster
Her appearance at this moment is an omen of disaster.
Synonyms
portent,
sign,
warning,
threat,
indication,
foreshadowing,
foreboding,
harbinger (literary),
presage,
forewarning,
writing on the wall,
prognostication,
augury,
prognostic,
foretoken
in the sense of portent
Definition
a sign of a future event
This is a frightening portent for the future.
Synonyms
omen,
sign,
warning,
threat,
indication,
premonition,
foreshadowing,
foreboding,
harbinger (literary),
presage,
forewarning,
prognostication,
augury,
presentiment,
prognostic
in the sense of presage
Definition
an omen
Soldiers used to believe a raven was a presage of coming battle.
Synonyms
omen,
sign,
warning,
forecast,
prediction,
prophecy,
portent,
harbinger (literary),
intimation,
forewarning,
prognostication,
augury,
prognostic,
auspice
Additional synonyms
in the sense of proclamation
his proclamation of the good news
Synonyms
publishing,
broadcasting,
announcement,
publication,
declaration,
notification,
pronouncement,
promulgation
in the sense of publication
Definition
the act of making information known to the public
We have no comment regarding the publication of these photographs.
Synonyms
publishing,
announcement,
broadcasting,
reporting,
airing,
appearance,
declaration,
advertisement,
disclosure,
proclamation,
notification,
dissemination,
promulgation
in the sense of warning
Definition
a hint, threat, or advance notice of a possible danger or problem
a warning of impending doom
Synonyms
omen,
sign,
forecast,
indication,
token,
prediction,
prophecy,
premonition,
foreboding,
portent,
presage,
augury,
foretoken,
rahui (New Zealand)
in the sense of writing on the wall
We should have seen the writing on the wall and guessed what was coming.