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 blooming
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
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Recent Examples of unfolding
For all the attacking flair that has defined San Diego FC since its arrival in Major League Soccer, the most revealing development of the club’s early 2026 season might be unfolding somewhere far less glamorous — the back line.
—
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Footage captured part of the altercation unfolding in an outdoor dining area.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Last fall, the agency came under fire — in a conflict that’s still unfolding — after officials made last-minute changes to a planned road diet along Alameda Avenue.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Advocates warn a similar effort is unfolding in Florida, threatening to shut out thousands of Muslims from benefiting from the national movement to allow public money to be spent on private schools.
—Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2026
The sketches of hands lining the wall outside of the gallery space point to what’s next — a future already unfolding as Arsham prepares for upcoming shows with Perrotin in London and Los Angeles, as well as in Helsinki.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Mar. 2026
Hearts were heavy with traumatic events unfolding in Iran, Palestine, Sudan, and the Gulf weighing on guests’ minds, but with so many people feeling isolated watching the headlines, the focus was on supporting each other.
—Sarah Khan, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
And the joke being dropped at a defense-tech event in DC goes to show just how many different industries, from tech to politics, are keeping an eye on the M&A drama unfolding in Hollywood this month.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
What’s unfolding on the Cape Fear is a preview of a much larger regulatory blind spot in the Corps’s national mission and the broader maritime economy.
—Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Footage captured part of the altercation unfolding in an outdoor dining area.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Last fall, the agency came under fire — in a conflict that’s still unfolding — after officials made last-minute changes to a planned road diet along Alameda Avenue.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
Advocates warn a similar effort is unfolding in Florida, threatening to shut out thousands of Muslims from benefiting from the national movement to allow public money to be spent on private schools.
—Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2026
The sketches of hands lining the wall outside of the gallery space point to what’s next — a future already unfolding as Arsham prepares for upcoming shows with Perrotin in London and Los Angeles, as well as in Helsinki.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Mar. 2026
Hearts were heavy with traumatic events unfolding in Iran, Palestine, Sudan, and the Gulf weighing on guests’ minds, but with so many people feeling isolated watching the headlines, the focus was on supporting each other.
—Sarah Khan, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
And the joke being dropped at a defense-tech event in DC goes to show just how many different industries, from tech to politics, are keeping an eye on the M&A drama unfolding in Hollywood this month.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 10 Mar. 2026
What’s unfolding on the Cape Fear is a preview of a much larger regulatory blind spot in the Corps’s national mission and the broader maritime economy.
—Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfolding
Verb
-
Kaplan has long focused on public safety, expanding amenities and making streets safer.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The interesting twist on Miami’s case is their test balloon is being floated as the powers-that-be debate expanding the NCAA Tournament field.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Operational superiority and proactive defense Combining Thales’ expertise in cybersecurity and advanced artificial intelligence through cortAIx, Thales AI accelerator, SkyDefender enables operational superiority and proactive defense against cyberattacks and evolving threats.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The wind still carries that faint suggestion of reinvention; this side of Quintana Roo isn’t done evolving.—
Gina Góngora,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spring weather welcomes a flush of blooming bulbs, tender green leaves, and flowering shrubs to the garden.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Shrubs like Korean spice viburnum, should not be pruned until they're done blooming.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Desert gold and brown-eyed primrose are appearing near Ashford Mill, along with sand verbena and fivespot.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
He’s spent the past three seasons with the team, appearing in 46 games (10 starts).—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The hospitality industry should prioritize structuring and opening its data so AI can access it, Llewellyn said.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, Maplewood is in the process of opening a public house in west suburban Glen Ellyn as its second location.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Drafted at only 17, his career seemed to be progressing until 2022.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In recent months, Israel’s leadership has concluded that Hezbollah’s military rehabilitation is progressing faster than the IDF’s disruption efforts, according to two Israeli sources.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chuparosa and brittlebush are flowering along the grade and in canyons.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Some options include Japanese maples with their golden, variegated, or red leaves, flowering trees such as magnolias or dogwoods, and trees that put on a spectacle of color in the fall, such as oaks, aspens, sassafras, and hawthorns.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But authorities ultimately found Chapman through phone records showing multiple calls between him and Jalloh in the week prior to the shooting, according to the affidavit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Friday’s memo also reaffirms that Austin police will be expected to turn over body camera footage showing potential misconduct by federal agents to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfolding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfolding. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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