UNFOLD Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

unfold

verb

ˌən-ˈfōld

Definition of unfold

as in to expand

to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area carefully unfold that antique map so that it doesn't tear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to evolve

to gradually become clearer or more detailed as the situation unfolded, it became clear that more help would be needed the movie became more interesting once the mystery began to unfold

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to bloom

to produce flowers the rosebud unfolded literally overnight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to appear

to come into view the majestic landscape unfolded before us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unfold The workforce challenges mark the latest hurdle for chipmakers seeking to expand their manufacturing footprint in the US and reverse the migration of production capacity to Asia that unfolded decades ago. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Now, in one of the clearest observations ever made, scientists have watched one of those moments unfold in real time and with unprecedented detail in an active seafloor spreading event in the Indian Ocean. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 8 July 2026 Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make an appearance in the funeral ceremonies, which are unfolding over several days. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 Against that backdrop, the story unfolds as a kind of chilango noir—that is, a Mexico City noir. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfold

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfold

Verb

The legislation reflects the complexity of the crisis, combining a total of 47 proposals aimed at increasing housing supply, reducing costs and expanding access to affordable homes.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Air Force partnership expands The award extends Asylon’s collaboration with the Air Force beyond autonomous security operations, an area where its robotic platforms already support active missions.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Definition of expand

Verb

The concept, which evolved from Victory Coffee & Calamity, preserves its specialty coffee program while giving the same space an entirely different personality in the later hours.

— Christopher Hassiotis, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Recovered missiles have already shown evidence of evolving designs.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of evolve

Verb

Cheryl planted perennials at the property to bloom throughout the year.

— David Caraccio Updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Within days of the pool being refilled on June 9, patches of vivid green algae bloomed across the surface, particularly near the Lincoln and World War II memorials.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 July 2026

Definition of bloom

Verb

His embrace of the legislation marked a shift for the governor, who appeared uninterested in engaging with the corporate tax proposal as recently as May.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Video of the incident appears to show Nelson getting into an altercation with another driver in a parking lot in Idaho.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of appear

Verb

Arizona extended its lead in the sixth after Tawa hit an RBI single to left and Perdomo drove in a run on a groundout to first.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
There were several security guards and metal detectors customers had to go through, which created a line extending out the Union Station doors.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2026

Definition of extend

Verb

Calls for police in Wilmington, Delaware, to release body cam footage from the officer who shot and killed Kadir Skinner in June are growing.

— CBS News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Former patrons of the bar and other mourners visited the site Tuesday, adding to the growing pile of flowers leaning on the guardrails cordoning off the location of the blaze.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026

Definition of grow

Verb

Although few wait to bloom until late summer or fall, most flower continuously in warm weather from late spring until frost in almost every color available.

— Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Wimbledon's second week continues with fashion making headlines, led by Naomi Osaka, whose creative all-white ensembles, including a ruffled skirt and flower Nike jacket, transformed the court into a runway.

— Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of flower

Verb

Certain tags have been more likely to get a post deleted or banned on Rednote, screenshots and searches show.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Videos and photos circulating on social media showed steel columns on the building’s higher floors buckling and contorting on Tuesday.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 July 2026

Definition of show

Browse Nearby Words

unfocused

unfold

unfolded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unfold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfold. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unfold

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on unfold

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loquacious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes