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
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.
Researchers unearthed these findings after poring over thousands of school board policies across more than 400 school districts statewide. Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025 Supervising Sound Editor Rachael Tate revealed that a breakthrough on the sound side had been unearthing radio communications between first responders on the day of the fire, starting with the initial reports. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025 Archaeologists recently unearthed the remnants of a historic royal palace from a Polish river, shedding light on a violent part of the country's history. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025 Memories are unearthed, resentments are shared, emotions are felt — and very little of it rings true. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unearth

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearth. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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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