as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
after the protestors had unfurled their banner, it stretched from one side of the visitors' gallery to the other
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Recent Examples of unfurl
In the end, the 35-minute event in the Brookfield Central High School gym on March 6 unfurled with few fireworks.
—
Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Then, after the 2020 race cancellation debacle as the COVID-19 pandemic unfurled, Bahrain took over in that slot.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
That last satellite has since unfurled its 2,400-square-foot array of solar panels and antennas and is undergoing checkout testing.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Shallow curiosity can unfurl into something more definite at this time.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfurl
Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Then, after the 2020 race cancellation debacle as the COVID-19 pandemic unfurled, Bahrain took over in that slot.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
That last satellite has since unfurled its 2,400-square-foot array of solar panels and antennas and is undergoing checkout testing.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 4 Mar. 2026
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Shallow curiosity can unfurl into something more definite at this time.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfurl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfurl
Verb
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While the senator comes to the position after more than a dozen years in Congress, and with the management experience of running an expanding family plumbing business in Oklahoma, he has not been seen as a key force in immigration issues.—
Rebecca Santana,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
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When that happens, Stanley hopes the itinerary will expand beyond Dilworth, NoDa and Plaza Midwood.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The law extended the program for two years, setting the current expiration deadline and giving lawmakers another opportunity to revisit possible reforms.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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However, the association between the two nations on nuclear energy is expected to extend beyond the construction of the power plants.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Appeals court proceedings unfold largely out of public view and are unlikely to surface new evidence, instead focusing on narrow legal questions about the president’s appointment authority and prosecutorial power.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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Every scene plays out as the most generic version of itself — unfolding along preset story beats and against plain desert backdrops rather than growing organically from specific individuals in a specific setting.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The real American sub, a succulent monster assembled by an artisanal stacker of deli meats and square cheeses, only hit the Old Country when Tommy’s Sandwiches opened in King’s Cross, central London, in January 2026.—
Dominic Green,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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The backstory Businessman Juan Rosa from Lanzarote opened the 7 Islas Hotel in Madrid in 2002, wanting to create a welcoming home away from home for Canary Islanders (the seven islands).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfurl. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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