unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth 

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

Synonyms

• disinter
• exhume

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

Removing old lead paint from the walls and unearthing original wood floors from underneath dozens of coats of paint were just some of the initial tasks at hand. —Linne Halpern, Architectural Digest, 13 Sep. 2024

Sichel unearths the roots of conflicts that plague today’s world and the toll espionage took on his personal life. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Sep. 2024

Two years ago, the organization unearthed a complete human skeleton at Mont-Saint-Jean farm in Belgium. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 12 Sep. 2024

Since their search began, more than 70,000 artifacts have been unearthed, including skeletal remains in prehistoric burials that are believed to date back 16,000 years. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth 

ˈən-

1

: to drive or draw from the earth : dig up

unearth buried treasure

2

: to bring to light : discover

unearth a secret