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
Her Blossom Marble Bowl—carved from a single block of honeycomb or travertine marble in Rajasthan—is unfurled, like a flower caught in late bloom.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
On Friday, hundreds of Kurds carried flames in a procession up the mountain under purple-black storm clouds, leaving the burning burlap torches lighting the darkness next to a giant Kurdish flag unfurled by the path.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Witness the most monstrous of monster transformations, one that cemented Rick Baker’s legacy and earned him his first Academy Award, unfurl on the big screen before your very eyes.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Trees that bloom early, such as magnolias, may unfurl their buds too soon as a result; when cold temperatures return, frost can kill those buds, robbing you of their flowers.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfurl
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
On Friday, hundreds of Kurds carried flames in a procession up the mountain under purple-black storm clouds, leaving the burning burlap torches lighting the darkness next to a giant Kurdish flag unfurled by the path.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Witness the most monstrous of monster transformations, one that cemented Rick Baker’s legacy and earned him his first Academy Award, unfurl on the big screen before your very eyes.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Trees that bloom early, such as magnolias, may unfurl their buds too soon as a result; when cold temperatures return, frost can kill those buds, robbing you of their flowers.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfurl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfurl
Verb
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With the 2026 midterms approaching, sustained voter unease could reshape the broader electoral map and complicate Republican efforts to hold or expand their congressional margins.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the department is looking to expand its authority.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Edwards extended his hit streak to five games during Tuesday evening’s 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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Eighth-grader Ella Parece dealt a complete-game shutout, pairing with a two-RBI performance from Bella Bourque to help Taunton (2-0) extend its win streak to 58 games with a 5-0 Hockomock League victory over Attleboro.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Later in the book, after Thomas has died, the narrator visits Max at his home in California, where another hypnotic two-hander unfolds.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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From there, the house unfolds via a traditional footprint that somehow feels soft and inviting instead of stifling.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 1958, Golestan, having just opened his own studio, hired Farrokhzad, who was already well known for boldly candid love poetry, as an assistant.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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So please open your eyes and look at what’s happened in Iran.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfurl. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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