Synonyms of unfolds

unfolds

verb

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

• expands
• opens
• extends
• unfurls
• spreads (out)
• stretches (out)
• flares (out)
• fans (out)
• outstretches
• outspreads
• overspreads

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• closes
• folds
• contracts
• reduces
• condenses
• compresses
• compacts

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

• evolves
• progresses
• grows
• develops
• elaborates
• emerges
• proceeds
• matures
• ripens
• marches
• fares
• gets on
• advances
• materializes
• blossoms
• gets along
• plays out
• forges

3

as in flowers

to produce flowers

the rosebud unfolded literally overnight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flowers
• blooms
• blossoms
• burgeons
• blows
• leaves
• effloresces
• opens
• buds
• leafs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fades
• dies
• expires
• dries up
• withers
• shrivels
• drops
• perishes
• wilts

4

as in appears

to come into view

the majestic landscape unfolded before us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appears
• shows
• comes
• arrives
• looms
• rises
• materializes
• reappears
• happens
• emerges
• comes out
• turns up
• shows up
• erupts
• occurs
• arises
• resurfaces
• surfaces
• dawns
• debuts
• blossoms
• breaks out
• crops (up)
• bulks
• springs (up)
• breaks
• shoots (up)
• issues
• outcrops
• bobs (up)
• rematerializes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disappears
• goes (away)
• dissolves
• fades
• vanishes
• evaporates
• clears
• melts (away)
• leaves
• departs
• withdraws
• retires
• evanesces

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unfolds

Related Stories The story unfolds at a toll booth station, where Rajji and her co-workers move through the same days on repeat. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Read about how that staging unfolds during the epic rumble scene near the end of the show. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Set in 2012, eighteen years after the genocide against the Tutsi, the film unfolds in a Rwandan village where survivors and perpetrators are grappling with the process of reconciliation. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

But as the day unfolds, Holloman, Charles, and Lugo start to open up about their lives on Rikers Island. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026

The film unfolds during an unusually fraught winter for Mihai and Lisbet Gheorghiu (Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve), a Christian couple who have just moved with their five children from Bucharest to a tiny village on the Norwegian coast. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Against the backdrop of a gruesome day, the Hebrew-language movie unfolds individual emotions and lives both before and during the attack, everyday problems of course not stopping with the tragedy, just interacting with it. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Much of their relationship unfolds sweetly over Zoom calls while Peter, aka Petya, operates out of Vienna with Natalia still in Ukraine. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

Livestreaming integration allows for tracking wagers in the app as the action unfolds. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026