unfolds

present tense third-person singular of unfold
1
as in expands
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 evolves
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
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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 unfolds The game play or the drama unfolds in a way that really matches that character’s atmosphere or that character’s aura. Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025 That has given them a buffer and momentum which, while unseen in the final league table, has a huge bearing on how a season unfolds. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025 The story unfolds against the backdrop of China’s dramatic economic transformation from the 1970s to the present. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025 Thompson fuels the twisty, sexy and deadly night that unfolds with dangerous allure. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025 As the scene unfolds, the gorilla suddenly lifts its arm and smacks the glass, causing a crack. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 The plot unfolds at the urgent but erratic pace of a life-altering business deal, as Bonitzer unfussily steers us through a series of small rooms as people scramble to determine the proper thing to do with Schiele’s painting. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025 Whereas much of the original play unfolds as a steady stream of callers to the Tesmans’ estate, DaCosta cleverly restages these various interpersonal calamities against the backdrop of a lavish party. Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025 The video’s story unfolds as a cinematic journey. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfolds
Verb
  • The collaboration expands on BMW and Solid Power’s work since 2022, now strengthened by Samsung SDI’s experience in large-scale cell manufacturing and materials engineering.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the horizontal stroke expands dramatically as AI enables professionals to contribute meaningfully beyond their core expertise.
    François Candelon, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But as consumers' perception of value evolves, and their wallets tighten, some surprising stalwarts in the sit-down sector are making a comeback.
    Rob Wile, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
  • And as the audio space evolves into whatever comes next — the network’s foundation ensures its relevance.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The fact that the county is looking to launch the same number of spots appears to be a coincidence, although two leaders from Father Joe’s — Chief Health Officer Megan Partch and Chief Strategy Officer Joshua Bohannan — showed up to Tuesday’s board meeting to praise the proposal.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Instead, the program appears to rely heavily on sensationalized accounts from secondary sources with no direct knowledge or relationship with him or his family.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Harp opens his story with the killing of one strung-out super-soldier at the hands of a Delta Force operator.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • One faces the kitchen, and the other opens to the living room.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As the book progresses, some of the children in the photographs are older and more in control of their outward expression, but scraps of strangeness or incongruity always peek through.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Many things can and will transpire as the season progresses.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • So, Ava really blooms in the back half, her agency and role in all things related to her dad gets messier and more dangerous.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
  • And despite the common misconception, goldenrod is not a source of seasonal allergies (ragweed, which blooms at the same time, is the real culprit).
    Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Air Mail’s fate shows that even the masters of the old form faced major headwinds when trying to navigate the new media landscape.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Video shows one agent restraining the man, then dragging him around as another agent helps pin him to the ground.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Her win extends Democratic control of the governor’s mansion to a third consecutive term and cements her status as one of the party’s rising national figures.
    Nik Popli, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Growing skepticism in American society about the value of multilateralism extends to economic issues.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unfolds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfolds. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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