unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth How to pronounce unearth (audio)
unearthed; unearthing; unearths
Synonyms of unearthnext

transitive verb

1
: to dig up out of or as if out of the earth : exhume
unearth treasure
unearth an old photo album
2
: to make known or public : bring to light
unearth a scandal
Choose the Right Synonym for unearth

discover, ascertain, determine, unearth, learn mean to find out what one did not previously know.

discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter.

discovered the source of the river

ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

attempts to ascertain the population of the region

determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely.

unable to determine the origin of the word

unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden.

unearth old records

learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice.

I learned her name only today
learning Greek

Examples of unearth in a Sentence

An old document was unearthed from the files. They unearthed evidence that he had accepted bribes.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Archaeologists recently unearthed the remains of ancient Roman marching camps in Saxony-Anhalt — a first for one of Eastern Germany's larger states. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026 Just as much an investigator as a memoirist, Nevils attempts to tunnel through the lurid details and the #MeToo boilerplate and unearth something much knottier. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026 Successful submissions can earn a researcher up to $2 or more, depending on the complexity of the prompt and the information unearthed. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026 Laocoön and His Sons, an exquisite marble sculpture of the legendary Trojan priest writhing in agony as he’s attacked by sea-serpents, was first unearthed in the early sixteenth-century, the only missing piece his right arm. Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unearth

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unearth was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Unearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearth. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

unearth

verb
un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth How to pronounce unearth (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to drive or draw from the earth : dig up
unearth buried treasure
2
: to bring to light : discover
unearth a secret

More from Merriam-Webster on unearth

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