1
as in expanding
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
carefully unfold that antique map so that it doesn't tear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evolving
to gradually become clearer or more detailed
as the situation unfolded, it became clear that more help would be needed the movie became more interesting once the mystery began to unfold
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in flowering
to produce flowers
the rosebud unfolded literally overnight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in appearing
to come into view
the majestic landscape unfolded before us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of unfolding
Their relationship is also unfolding against the backdrop of weakening Senate norms that in the past forced some semblance of bipartisanship.
—
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025
Offering strikingly intimate access to a real, unfolding love triangle, the film documents all sides of what is usually kept behind closed doors.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
And while speculative fiction, Zero Day Attack is rooted in events already unfolding.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
There's a college education renaissance quietly unfolding in Wisconsin prisons, Kelly Meyerhofer reports.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
The fraught and politically chaotic debate is unfolding this way because data centers are largely a bottom-up issue, said Megan Mullin, a professor of public policy at UCLA.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Seeing what was unfolding, a passerby walked in and yelled at the woman in the baseball hat to stop selling there.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Our accounting of arrests in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago is particularly limited, since the events there are still unfolding.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
During film study, detailed coaches and players don’t watch a motion just for the result, but also for all of the small shifts and reactions on either side as that motion is unfolding.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2025
Offering strikingly intimate access to a real, unfolding love triangle, the film documents all sides of what is usually kept behind closed doors.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
And while speculative fiction, Zero Day Attack is rooted in events already unfolding.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
There's a college education renaissance quietly unfolding in Wisconsin prisons, Kelly Meyerhofer reports.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
The fraught and politically chaotic debate is unfolding this way because data centers are largely a bottom-up issue, said Megan Mullin, a professor of public policy at UCLA.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Seeing what was unfolding, a passerby walked in and yelled at the woman in the baseball hat to stop selling there.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Our accounting of arrests in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago is particularly limited, since the events there are still unfolding.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
During film study, detailed coaches and players don’t watch a motion just for the result, but also for all of the small shifts and reactions on either side as that motion is unfolding.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfolding
Verb
-
In 2025, Ohtani is likely to earn another MVP award, adding to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Environmental advocates question the need for expanding fossil fuel resources a time when greenhouse gases from those fuels are worsening climate change.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The move also represents another step in the evolving relationship between AI tools and creators and the music industry.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fall is a great time to plant daylilies because plants have a long time to establish roots before blooming, often resulting in improved flowering the first season.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Growing flowering herbs, annuals, perennials, and cover crops such as clover beneath apple trees attracts pollinators and helps apple trees fruit better.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Farther up, on Observatory Hill, tall cryptomeria trees were silhouetted in the darkening evening, and down in the valleys, lights winked on like reflections of the planets and stars appearing in the sky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Other than Valak appearing in both The Conjuring 2 and The Nun, there’s no apparent link between the two movies — but in The Nun’s sequel, a plot point emerges that ties the movies together.—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Add in the flourishes provided by Poku and Kofane, in particular — the former’s opening goal last weekend was a masterpiece — and the picture is of a brittle but talented group, clearly in a development stage, but with obvious potential in key areas.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But as the calendar grew more crowded around the year-end holidays, studios started relying on off-peak months and began opening higher-profile films in October.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Construction is progressing on what’s set to become the world’s tallest building.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Holtec, which bought the plant in 2022, revealed that the major equipment restoration work is progressing across the plant.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Native, night-blooming plants attract nighttime pollinators, a yummy snack for a hungry bat.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Varieties include the early-blooming Solar Glow™, which produces red-orange blooms, and Solar Flare™ with yellow flowers accented in orange hues.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Justin has always been vocal about showing support for Toronto, and even did a jersey collaboration with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Photos later emerged showing her in North Korea, where she was known to have married and given birth to a daughter.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfolding. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share