as in expanding
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 unfurling
Roses were gently laid across the caskets before eight white doves were released into the sky, their wings unfurling into the clouds — a cruel irony beside the eight young lives below, cut short before their stories ever had the chance to unfurl at all.
—
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
What otherwise might be viewed as an aspect of maturation or the spirit moving him also happens to be unfurling early in a season in which the Royals had stressed the need for their young-ish core to seize control of the team.
—Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
At thirty-eight, her womb was unfurling its first bloody fruit.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Several nations on the continent are only just recovering from a post-pandemic shock that sent debt burdens soaring, and inflationary pressures set off by the war in the Middle East now risk unfurling that progress.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Introduced by Jack Black, Illumination chief Chris Meledandri was on hand today in Las Vegas, unfurling a long look that shows the Minions in the Midwest chasing a robber cowboy on horse, train and plane and cornering him.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
Amid an unfurling federal corruption probe into City Councilmember Farah Louis, the Daily News has learned that the Brooklyn rep has been embroiled in a messy internal council investigation.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
The florist-by-trade gestures behind her to hundreds of flowers contained in buckets — blue thistles, ivory anemones and calla lilies painted silver — all twisted and unfurling into the air.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
On May 20, 2025, Joslin and a group of activists climbed up one-third of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite monolith in Yosemite Park, unfurling a large Transgender flag and hanging it along the mountainside for approximately two hours.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
What otherwise might be viewed as an aspect of maturation or the spirit moving him also happens to be unfurling early in a season in which the Royals had stressed the need for their young-ish core to seize control of the team.
—Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
At thirty-eight, her womb was unfurling its first bloody fruit.
—‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Several nations on the continent are only just recovering from a post-pandemic shock that sent debt burdens soaring, and inflationary pressures set off by the war in the Middle East now risk unfurling that progress.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Introduced by Jack Black, Illumination chief Chris Meledandri was on hand today in Las Vegas, unfurling a long look that shows the Minions in the Midwest chasing a robber cowboy on horse, train and plane and cornering him.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
Amid an unfurling federal corruption probe into City Councilmember Farah Louis, the Daily News has learned that the Brooklyn rep has been embroiled in a messy internal council investigation.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
The florist-by-trade gestures behind her to hundreds of flowers contained in buckets — blue thistles, ivory anemones and calla lilies painted silver — all twisted and unfurling into the air.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
On May 20, 2025, Joslin and a group of activists climbed up one-third of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite monolith in Yosemite Park, unfurling a large Transgender flag and hanging it along the mountainside for approximately two hours.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfurling
Verb
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According to Academy rules, the number of nominees in each category is determined by the volume of submissions, with the field expanding to a sixth lead or supporting nominee only once entries cross the 80-submission threshold.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
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Educational institutions, workforce agencies, employers, libraries, and community organizations each play an important role in expanding access to these capabilities.—
Michael Edmondson,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The original 1900 barn has been expanded into a five-bedroom, open-plan home with decks extending from both levels and a 25-foot-tall great room topped by a loft with wood railings.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
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Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee stayed white-hot by extending his MLB-leading hitting streak to 15 games with an opposite-field RBI single in the top of the first.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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It can’t really even be argued that this is a game unfolding between two adults.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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The Aftermath will air July 16 and will feature three conversations to cover the unfolding scandal since the reunion taping.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The prosecution and defense both waived their right to opening statements in the sentencing phase.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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The shame of opening the door to them in my filthy pajamas, of letting them into an apartment that had not been cleaned or aired for days.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfurling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfurling. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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