unfoldverb
uk/ʌnˈfəʊld/us/ʌnˈfoʊld/unfold verb (OPEN)
C1 [ T ] to open or spread out something that has been folded:
He watched her expression as she unfolded the letter.
She unfolded a deckchair and sat down.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Unfastening and opening
- breaker
- crack
- let/set sth loose idiom
- loose
- loosen
- loosen your grip idiom
- open sb up
- pay (sth) out
- steam
- the earth/ground/floor opens idiom
- throw
- unbuckle
- uncap
- uncork
- undid
- unpick
- unplug
- unroll
- unscrew
- untie
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unfold verb (DEVELOP)
C2 [ I ] If a situation or story unfolds, it develops or becomes clear to other people:
Like a lot of people, I've watched the events of the last few days unfold on TV.
As the plot unfolds, you gradually realize that all your initial assumptions were wrong.
[ T ] formal to tell a story or explain something such as a plan:
Gradually, the author unfolds a fantastical tale.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making progress and advancing
- a step forward idiom
- advance
- advancement
- ahead
- be cooking idiom
- betterment
- develop
- go great guns idiom
- graduate
- grow
- grow into sb/sth
- grow out of sth
- have come a long way idiom
- rise
- shape
- simmer
- speciation
- spread your wings idiom
- steer a course/path idiom
- step
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Defining & explaining