revelation

noun

rev·​e·​la·​tion ˌre-və-ˈlā-shən 

1

a

: an act of revealing or communicating divine truth

b

: something that is revealed by God to humans

2

a

: an act of revealing to view or making known

b

: something that is revealed

especially : an enlightening or astonishing disclosure

shocking revelations

c

: a pleasant often enlightening surprise

her talent was a revelation

3

capitalized : an apocalyptic writing addressed to early Christians of Asia Minor and included as a book in the New Testament

called also Apocalypse

see Bible Table

Synonyms

• disclosure
• divulgence
• exposure

Examples of revelation in a Sentence

The book includes many shocking revelations about the mayor's personal life.

The revelation that she was a drug user was not a surprise to me.

Revelations by the newspaper caused a scandal.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Bay Area revelation of Playoff Jimmy changes the calculus. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

To underline this point, the hour closes with the revelation that Abby’s group has finally tracked down its quarry, and are very close to Jackson. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2025

Emotional issues have deep resonance on Last — by comparison The Walking Dead was as empty as a corpse’s conscience — and the revelation of what’s caused Ellie and Joel’s rift will lead to a great, wrenching episode. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025

After 14 episodes of immersive med-drama action, The Pitt used its final hour of the season to focus on the emotional aftermath of the traumatic shift — and the revelations that had to be swept aside during the life-saving chaos. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English revelacioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin revelation-, revelatio, from Latin revelare to reveal

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing revelation

• come as a revelation
• self-revelation

Rhymes for revelation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

revelation

1 of 2 noun

rev·​e·​la·​tion ˌrev-ə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an act of revealing or making known divine truth

2

a

: an act of revealing to view

b

: something that is revealed

especially : a surprising or astonishing disclosure

Revelation

2 of 2 noun

Rev·​e·​la·​tion

ˌrev-ə-ˈlā-shən

: a writing dealing with the end of the world addressed to early Christians of Asia Minor and included as a book in the New Testament see bible