as in to expand
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 unfurl
Her Blossom Marble Bowl—carved from a single block of honeycomb or travertine marble in Rajasthan—is unfurled, like a flower caught in late bloom.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
On Friday, hundreds of Kurds carried flames in a procession up the mountain under purple-black storm clouds, leaving the burning burlap torches lighting the darkness next to a giant Kurdish flag unfurled by the path.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Witness the most monstrous of monster transformations, one that cemented Rick Baker’s legacy and earned him his first Academy Award, unfurl on the big screen before your very eyes.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Trees that bloom early, such as magnolias, may unfurl their buds too soon as a result; when cold temperatures return, frost can kill those buds, robbing you of their flowers.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfurl
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
On Friday, hundreds of Kurds carried flames in a procession up the mountain under purple-black storm clouds, leaving the burning burlap torches lighting the darkness next to a giant Kurdish flag unfurled by the path.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Witness the most monstrous of monster transformations, one that cemented Rick Baker’s legacy and earned him his first Academy Award, unfurl on the big screen before your very eyes.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Trees that bloom early, such as magnolias, may unfurl their buds too soon as a result; when cold temperatures return, frost can kill those buds, robbing you of their flowers.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfurl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfurl
Verb
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With the 2026 midterms approaching, sustained voter unease could reshape the broader electoral map and complicate Republican efforts to hold or expand their congressional margins.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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But the department is looking to expand its authority.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Edwards extended his hit streak to five games during Tuesday evening’s 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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Eighth-grader Ella Parece dealt a complete-game shutout, pairing with a two-RBI performance from Bella Bourque to help Taunton (2-0) extend its win streak to 58 games with a 5-0 Hockomock League victory over Attleboro.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Others find their true calling much earlier in life—but few can top Logan Brown, a legal AI entrepreneur who watched court cases unfold before her recess days were over.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Since then, more than 1,000 of these home kitchens have opened across California, operating under a growing but still patchwork system.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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If a hobby upgrade tempts you, open a spreadsheet to compare options before opening your wallet!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfurl. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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