unfold

1 of 2

verb

un·​fold ˌən-ˈfōld 

unfolded; unfolding; unfolds

transitive verb

1

a

: to open the folds of : spread or straighten out : expand

unfolded the map

b

: to remove (something, such as a package) from the folds : unwrap

unfolding a parcel

2

: to open to the view : reveal

especially : to make clear by gradual disclosure and often by recital

unfolded his story to me

intransitive verb

1

a

: to open from a folded state : open out : expand

b

: blossom

2

: develop, evolve

as the story unfolds

3

: to open out gradually to the view or understanding : become known

a panorama unfolds before their eyes

unfoldment

ˌən-ˈfōl(d)-mənt 

noun

unfoldment

2 of 2

noun

un·​fold·​ment -l(d)mənt 

plural -s

1

: the act or process of unfolding : development, evolution

during the story's unfoldment the character grows

—Saturday Evening Post

help those who are seeking spiritual unfoldment

—American Mercury

2

: full manifestation or realization

the journey of the soul to its final unfoldment

—M. L. Bach

Synonyms of unfold

Verb

• expand
• extend
• open
• unfurl

Examples of unfold in a Sentence

Verb

The couch unfolds to form a bed.

We'll have more news as events unfold.

We watched the drama unfold on live television.

As the story unfolds, we learn that the boy became an orphan when he was one year old.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With pockets of protests against the Iranian government unfolding outside SoFi Stadium, Iran just took the field for warm-ups. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 June 2026

And indeed, because IRIS was already observing the region, researchers obtained nearly five uninterrupted hours of observations before the flare erupted, providing a rare window into the processes unfolding in the sun's atmosphere before the explosion. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2026

What happened at Stanford The protest unfolded Sunday at Stanford’s commencement ceremony, attended by over 20,000 people, including nearly 3,600 graduating students. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 June 2026

Then the crisis began to unfold before his eyes. —Emmet Livingstone, NPR, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

unfold + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for unfold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

unfold

verb

un·​fold ˌən-ˈfōld 

1

a

: to spread or cause to spread or straighten out from a folded position or arrangement

unfolded the map

b

: unwrap

2

: bloom entry 2 sense 1

3

: develop sense 1a

as the story unfolds

4

: to open out or cause to open out gradually to the view or understanding

new technology unfolds before us