uncover

verb

un·​cov·​er ən-ˈkə-vər 

uncovered; uncovering; uncovers

transitive verb

1

: to make known : bring to light : disclose, reveal

uncover the truth

2

: to expose to view by removing some covering

3

a

: to take the cover from

b

: to remove the hat from

uncovered his head

4

: to deprive of protection

intransitive verb

1

: to remove a cover or covering

2

: to take off the hat as a token of respect

Synonyms of uncover

• reveal
• discover
• disclose
• tell
• expose

Examples of uncover in a Sentence

Police uncovered a criminal plot.

Archaeologists uncovered the ruins of an ancient city.

Recent Examples on the Web

Discover the Rhythm of Florida’s Northwest Coast From a boutique inn to the backwater bays Taylor Eisenhauer uncovers the storied side of Florida’s Panhandle. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Looking closer, Loh and his team uncovered cytological differences in how chromosomal material was packaged in each cell type, further demonstrating key differences that separated each population of future brain tissues. — Mike McRae 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026

Computer scientist Brent Seales, cocreator of the Vesuvius Challenge, first uncovered the metallic ink in Herculaneum scrolls in 2009 while studying one of them at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

As its title suggests, the movie plays, at times, like an attempt to uncover the lady behind the legend, but its chaotic setting rarely allows for such a detailed inquiry. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for uncover

• discover
• hardcover
• recover
• thereover
• cover
• hover
• plover
• rediscover
• undercover

Kids Definition

uncover

verb

un·​cov·​er ˌən-ˈkəv-ər 

1

: to make known : disclose, reveal

uncover a plot

2

: to expose to view by removing some covering

uncover the ruins of an ancient city

3

a

: to take the cover from

uncover the box

b

: to remove the hat from

c

: to take off one's hat as a sign of respect