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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unfurling
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
Poems about buds unfurling in the spring, poems about music, poems about all the work there is to be done.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Tehran has responded by unfurling a four-story poster in the capital’s Enghelab – or Revolution – Square threatening the destruction of an American aircraft carrier.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
The 12-hour time difference didn’t stop him from diving headfirst into the moment, jumping on the bed, playfully unfurling the pieces and directing camera cuts.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 21 Jan. 2026
Since then, changes have started unfurling at the entertainment and retail center.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Jan. 2026
Hardly out of her teens, Anna Christopherson is a Swedish immigrant, brought by her mother to Minnesota as a young child while her father, Chris (Brian d’Arcy James, unfurling in the role as if it were written for him), was constantly away at sea.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2025
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
Poems about buds unfurling in the spring, poems about music, poems about all the work there is to be done.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
Tehran has responded by unfurling a four-story poster in the capital’s Enghelab – or Revolution – Square threatening the destruction of an American aircraft carrier.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
The 12-hour time difference didn’t stop him from diving headfirst into the moment, jumping on the bed, playfully unfurling the pieces and directing camera cuts.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 21 Jan. 2026
Since then, changes have started unfurling at the entertainment and retail center.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 19 Jan. 2026
Hardly out of her teens, Anna Christopherson is a Swedish immigrant, brought by her mother to Minnesota as a young child while her father, Chris (Brian d’Arcy James, unfurling in the role as if it were written for him), was constantly away at sea.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfurling
Verb
-
From global dishes to comfort food classics, many supermarkets now offer — and are expanding — buffet-style prepared foods that rival takeout in both variety and convenience.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
While the business itself operates within the expanding private credit market, an asset class that has drawn significant institutional capital in recent years, the partnership behind it remains its most distinctive feature.—
NIa Bowers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Also in Lake County, the City of Groveland went through a similar process last year with over 69% of voters choosing to support an ordinance extending council terms from two years to four years and impose term limits for council members and the city’s mayor.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
As survivors watch lawmakers lock horns over the Iran war and the record-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown, some worry extending disaster tax relief will be de-prioritized.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Created by Santino and Nick Kreiss (Punk’d, The Eric André Show), The Bad Game Show drops celebrities into a chaotic mix of trivia and absurd challenges, where surprise guests crash the game and nothing goes as planned, all unfolding inside Lee’s mom’s basement.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Voice messages announcing deaths are layered over static shots of an empty home, echoing her own experience of events unfolding.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After some spring training struggles, a season-opening assignment to Triple-A and a pair of forgettable starts, the pitcher is happy to have a scoreless start under his belt.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
TokyoReuters — Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defense export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfurling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfurling. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
