unfurl

verb

un·​furl ˌən-ˈfər(-ə)l How to pronounce unfurl (audio)
unfurled; unfurling; unfurls
Synonyms of unfurlnext

transitive verb

: to release from a furled state
unfurled the sails

intransitive verb

: to open out from or as if from a furled state : unfold
The flowers are starting to unfurl.

Examples of unfurl in a Sentence

after the protestors had unfurled their banner, it stretched from one side of the visitors' gallery to the other
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.
Trees that bloom early, such as magnolias, may unfurl their buds too soon as a result; when cold temperatures return, frost can kill those buds, robbing you of their flowers. David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026 Between their melodies, inevitable as a heart attack, the four New York musicians carve out room for the unexpected to unfurl. Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2026 In the end, the 35-minute event in the Brookfield Central High School gym on March 6 unfurled with few fireworks. Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026 That last satellite has since unfurled its 2,400-square-foot array of solar panels and antennas and is undergoing checkout testing. Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfurl

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfurl was in 1641

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Cite this Entry

“Unfurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfurl. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

unfurl

verb
un·​furl ˌən-ˈfər(-ə)l How to pronounce unfurl (audio)
: to loose from a furled state : open or spread : unfold
unfurl sails
unfurl a flag

More from Merriam-Webster on unfurl

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