Synonyms of unfurl

unfurl

verb

ˌən-ˈfər(-ə)l 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expand
• extend
• unfold
• open
• spread (out)
• outspread
• stretch (out)
• flare (out)
• outstretch
• fan (out)
• overspread

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• close
• fold
• reduce
• contract
• compact
• compress
• condense

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unfurl

Scheduled to fly later this year, the spacecraft will unfurl a highly reflective 60-foot (18-meter) thin-film mirror. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

But only once, in 2018, did two plants actually unfurl on the same day. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Early in the film, Angela unfurls a rug onto the living room floor. — Emily Zemler, Architectural Digest, 10 July 2026

The still-unfurling Platner disaster is exacerbating the internal divisions inside the Democratic Party. — Philip Elliott, Time, 7 July 2026