unfold

verb

un·​fold ˌən-ˈfōld How to pronounce unfold (audio)
unfolded; unfolding; unfolds
Synonyms of unfoldnext

transitive verb

1
a
: to open the folds of : spread or straighten out : expand
unfolded the map
b
: to remove (something, such as a package) from the folds : unwrap
unfolding a parcel
2
: to open to the view : reveal
especially : to make clear by gradual disclosure and often by recital
unfolded his story to me

intransitive verb

1
a
: to open from a folded state : open out : expand
b
2
: develop, evolve
as the story unfolds
3
: to open out gradually to the view or understanding : become known
a panorama unfolds before their eyes
unfoldment noun

Examples of unfold in a Sentence

The couch unfolds to form a bed. We'll have more news as events unfold. We watched the drama unfold on live television. As the story unfolds, we learn that the boy became an orphan when he was one year old.
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.
This newsroom-wide project brings fast facts as stories unfold — making sure our local officials and institutions are telling the truth, serving our communities well and following through on their promises. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026 Known as Redlap House, the property spans more than 31 picturesque acres in South Devon, unfolding from formal gardens to thick woodlands down to a small sandy beach at the foot of a rocky cliff. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026 Sometimes having a normie on the cast balances the energy of the more eccentric ladies and can even lead to some fun, Jury Duty–esque humor that emerges when a regular person watches larger-than-life drama unfold around them. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2026 As a bonus, the pouch unfolds and serves as a cutting board, just like in earlier EaTi models. Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfold

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfold was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unfold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfold. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

unfold

verb
un·​fold ˌən-ˈfōld How to pronounce unfold (audio)
1
a
: to spread or cause to spread or straighten out from a folded position or arrangement
unfolded the map
b
: unwrap
2
3
: develop sense 1a
as the story unfolds
4
: to open out or cause to open out gradually to the view or understanding
new technology unfolds before us

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