disclose

1 of 2

verb

dis·​close dis-ˈklōz How to pronounce disclose (audio)
disclosed; disclosing; discloses

transitive verb

1
a
: to make known or public
would not disclose his salary
b
: to expose to view
c
archaic : hatch
2
obsolete : to open up
discloser noun
plural disclosers
disclosable adjective
… I shall go into Mexico with a pretty definite purpose, which, however, is not at present disclosable. Ambrose Bierce
… he and most of the other area lawmakers contacted said any eventual solution should not result in every document they generate or receive becoming a disclosable record. The Daily Herald (Everett, Washington)

disclose

2 of 2

noun

obsolete
Choose the Right Synonym for disclose

reveal, disclose, divulge, tell, betray mean to make known what has been or should be concealed.

reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Examples of disclose in a Sentence

Verb He refused to disclose the source of his information. The company has disclosed that it will be laying off thousands of workers later this year. The identity of the victim has not yet been disclosed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Authorities have not disclosed the name of the cruise line. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 No amount or stake percentage was disclosed for AEG’s purchase of CMN. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 In January, for example, the Food and Drug Administration disclosed that the agency is investigating reports of alopecia, a hair loss condition, and aspiration, a complication during surgery when people inhale food or other objects into their airway, linked to the drugs. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit was filed by an unidentified plaintiff last year in Los Angeles Superior Court, but it was not allowed to disclose Polanski as the defendant. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 Senate Bill 1178 would require multinational companies of 2,500 employees or more that are licensed to do business in California to publicly disclose their wastewater discharges. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 The headquarters, the exact location of which was not immediately disclosed, will be one of 44 offices across the state operated by the Biden campaign and state and national Democrats, according to the Biden campaign. Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 But most other details of the Medialink investment — notably its value or — were not immediately disclosed. Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Under the terms disclosed in a March 11 filing with U.S. federal regulators, the company could now be valued at nearly $6.5 billion. William Gavin, Quartz, 11 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French desclos-, stem of desclore to open, unlock, reveal, from Medieval Latin disclaudere, from Latin dis- + claudere to close — more at close entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disclose was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near disclose

Cite this Entry

“Disclose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disclose. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disclose

verb
dis·​close
dis-ˈklōz
: to make known
disclose secrets
discloser noun

Legal Definition

disclose

transitive verb
dis·​close dis-ˈklōz How to pronounce disclose (audio)
: to make known or reveal to another or to the public

More from Merriam-Webster on disclose

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