unfolds

Definition of unfoldsnext
present tense third-person singular of unfold
1
as in expands
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area carefully unfold that antique map so that it doesn't tear

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in evolves
to gradually become clearer or more detailed as the situation unfolded, it became clear that more help would be needed the movie became more interesting once the mystery began to unfold

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
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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 unfolds As the song unfolds, their voices begin to braid together like twin strands of ivy—a Scottish lilt and a Montana twang—creeping across a hard stone wall of fuzzy grunge guitars. Liam Hess, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026 Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome unfolds in phases. Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026 The film unfolds like a fever dream in the shanty towns of Sahiwal, Pakistan. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026 Therapies that work well for some fall flat for others, and progression often unfolds in ways that resist standard treatment strategies. New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026 Harbaugh hasn’t been sitting by, idly waiting to fill his staff while the OC search unfolds. Dan Duggan, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 As the plot unfolds, the episode tackles heavy themes of trauma and recovery, showcasing the efforts of Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) to support a victim facing their past abuse. Denise Petski, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026 But as the month unfolds, recurring aspects between Uranus and personal planets, such as Mercury and Venus, create patterns of disruption that become impossible to ignore. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026 As Benedict madly searches for his Lady in Silver, Sophie’s story unfolds elsewhere, a heartbreaking, decades-spanning tale about power dynamics and class divides. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfolds
Verb
  • When one soul speaks its truth, the frequency of truth expands through the collective.
    Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
  • As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to rise.
    Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This keeps costs down and helps Sprout stay useful longer as technology evolves.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The experiment provides a good starting point to test current models of how organic matter evolves in space, Grewal added in an email.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At one point, the individual appears to tilt their head away from a doorbell camera, hold a flashlight in their mouth and attempt to cover the lens with a gloved hand and what looked like part of a plant pulled from the yard.
    Bradford Betz , Matt Finn, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Where to see the partial solar eclipse A far greater number of people will be able to witness the partial stage of the annular solar eclipse during which the moon appears to take a 'bite' out of the sun.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The show, a sort of elegy for Gen X, opens with a flash-forward to July 16, 1999, the final hours of Carolyn and John.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • When Tulah opens later this year, stays will cost up to $2,700 per person per night, inclusive of all treatments and meals.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • TxDOT will keep working on the new RM 2871 Longvue Avenue bridge and other improvements tied to the broader rebuild, which means more lane shifts and temporary closures are possible as the project progresses through 2026.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
  • As the week progresses, a front of Arctic air will trek through the Great Lakes region and into the Northeast and is set to bring snow squalls, high winds and freezing temperatures, forecasters said.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • River rafting and tubing can be more adventurous with fuller watersheds during these months, but the scenery blooms bright green and is more stunning than ever.
    Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Rarely have Hunt’s compositions felt so jittery and full of life as the title track, which blooms from murmuring drones into shimmering bokehs of synth programming.
    Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Footage of the incident shows King Charles greeting dozens of residents when one man shouted at him, asking whether the monarch had urged police to investigate his disgraced brother, according to The Times.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Our research shows these concerts significantly increased occupancy rates in short-term rentals – although the effect did not translate to hotels.
    Gidon Jakar, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • An exceptional culinary experience likewise extends to the beauty of the cutlery, crystal, and fine china set the meal is served with, ideally in a space likewise suited to the elegance of such a tablescape.
    Laurie Brookins, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Positioned as the brand’s first solvent-free shoe, the style extends Keen’s long-running Detox the Planet program into a fully modular build.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Unfolds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfolds. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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