unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth How to pronounce unearth (audio)
unearthed; unearthing; unearths

transitive verb

1
: to dig up out of or as if out of the earth : exhume
unearth treasure
unearth an old photo album
2
: to make known or public : bring to light
unearth a scandal
Choose the Right Synonym for unearth

discover, ascertain, determine, unearth, learn mean to find out what one did not previously know.

discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter.

discovered the source of the river

ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

attempts to ascertain the population of the region

determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely.

unable to determine the origin of the word

unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden.

unearth old records

learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice.

I learned her name only today
learning Greek

Examples of unearth in a Sentence

An old document was unearthed from the files. They unearthed evidence that he had accepted bribes.
Recent Examples on the Web Inside, the creative director Stephen Ellwood, the shop’s owner, offers a mix of vintage textiles, recently unearthed George Platt Lynes photographs, 19th-century stoneware and art books. Nicole Demarco Dalya Benor Caitie Kelly Juan A. Ramírez Monica Mendal Janet Siroto, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Before launching new partnerships, AI developers may need to establish processes to unearth the values of external AI models and data, similar to how companies assess potential partners’ sustainability. François Candelon, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 In Morocco, Nizar Ibrahim leads a team into the Saharan desert on a quest to unearth the next great scientific discovery but must negotiate with fossil dealers who want big money for the same bones. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 But what started as a prize won by Wójcik turned into something much more significant as the group members made their way through the wooded area with their metal detectors — and began unearthing some surprises. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 In crafting a governing ideology in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has sought to rehabilitate the strongman legacy of Stalin while suppressing efforts to unearth the atrocities and abuses of the Soviet past. Suzanne Nossel, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2024 For example, in the digital advertising world, through careful monitoring of metrics like CPM, click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate into sales, conversion rate from clicks to landing page views and low-funnel conversion, your company can unearth valuable insights. Aleks Farseev, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 See it → Metal detectorist unearths 'one-of-a-kind' gold treasure from 1,400 years ago. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 The vessel was unearthed at a Neolithic settlement known as Oldenburg LA 77. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unearth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unearth was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near unearth

Cite this Entry

“Unearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearth. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unearth

verb
un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth How to pronounce unearth (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to drive or draw from the earth : dig up
unearth buried treasure
2
: to bring to light : discover
unearth a secret

More from Merriam-Webster on unearth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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