Synonyms of unfolding

unfolding

verb

present participle of unfold

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

• expanding
• opening
• extending
• unfurling
• spreading (out)
• stretching (out)
• flaring (out)
• fanning (out)
• outspreading
• outstretching
• overspreading

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closing
• folding
• contracting
• reducing
• condensing
• compressing
• compacting

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

• evolving
• progressing
• growing
• developing
• proceeding
• elaborating
• emerging
• blossoming
• maturing
• ripening
• marching
• forging
• getting along
• advancing
• getting on
• faring
• playing out
• materializing

3

as in blooming

to produce flowers

the rosebud unfolded literally overnight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blooming
• flowering
• blossoming
• burgeoning
• blowing
• leaving
• efflorescing
• leafing
• budding
• opening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fading
• dying
• withering
• drying up
• dropping
• expiring
• wilting
• shriveling
• perishing

4

as in appearing

to come into view

the majestic landscape unfolded before us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appearing
• showing
• coming
• looming
• arriving
• rising
• happening
• materializing
• coming out
• emerging
• reappearing
• turning up
• showing up
• occurring
• erupting
• surfacing
• arising
• blossoming
• dawning
• resurfacing
• issuing
• bulking
• shooting (up)
• breaking out
• outcropping
• springing (up)
• breaking
• cropping (up)
• bobbing (up)
• debuting
• rematerializing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• going (away)
• vanishing
• disappearing
• dissolving
• evaporating
• fading
• melting (away)
• clearing
• leaving
• evanescing
• withdrawing
• departing
• retiring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unfolding

The play is a gently unfolding, calmly delivered tale of the decades of horrors endured by a real-life person named Eddie Jaku. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

The origination of the artwork soon belongs to history, but history is ongoing—an unfolding future. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Rather than scripting the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy that exists only in their imagination, skeptics might try covering the story unfolding in front of them – one of the most successful transformations on Wall Street playing out today. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

All of this is unfolding during a polarizing presidential election between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of plotting a coup. — Dan Restrepo, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Some regions are particularly stressed by the changes unfolding as the world warms. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

The moves are unfolding against D’Amaro’s broader effort to make Disney a leaner operation while increasing investment in areas the company considers strategic. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

At the same time, a heated battle is unfolding in both Washington and Silicon Valley after top AI researchers and tech leaders, such as Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, called for a development slowdown amid mounting concerns over AI safety. — Samantha Subin,chris Eudaily, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

What is unfolding currently extends beyond another economic cycle or a period of geopolitical tension. — Walid Chiniara, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026