DictionaryAI

reveal

Sayri-VEEL/ɹɪˈvil/UK/ɹɪˈviːl/

Verbreveals, revealing, revealed

Noun pluralreveals

4 meanings of reveal

Practice

  1. 1
    uncoververbtransitive
    To make known something that was secret or not known before, or to uncover something so that it can be seen.

    Investigators promised to reveal their findings at the press conference.

    The magician revealed the hidden card with a flourish.

    UsageOften reveal something to someone, or reveal that + a clause: the report revealed that costs had doubled.

    Similaruncover, unveil, expose

    Oppositeconceal, hide, cover

    Note

    Behind the verb is the picture of drawing back a cloth. It comes from Latin revēlāre, built from re- "back" and vēlāre "to cover," and vēlāre comes from vēlum, a veil or curtain. Veil, unveil and voile are therefore relatives. Unveil keeps that picture vivid. Reveal takes facts as readily as objects, as when Gary Younge, writing in The Guardian in 2013, described dispatches that revealed details of corruption.

    Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

    • Reveal ultimately derives from Latin revēlāre, with the literal image of uncovering a cloth or veil. en.wiktionary.org
    • Latin revēlāre combines re- meaning back with vēlāre meaning to cover. en.wiktionary.org
    • Vēlāre derives from vēlum, meaning a veil or curtain. en.wiktionary.org
    • Veil, unveil and voile are etymological relatives of reveal. en.wiktionary.org
    • Gary Younge wrote in The Guardian in 2013 about dispatches revealing details of corruption. theguardian.com
  2. 2
    surprise momentnouncolloquialcountable
    A revelation; the moment of uncovering what had been hidden in a scene or story.

    Sitcom writers timed the reveal for maximum comic effect.

    The episode's two reveals reshaped everything viewers thought they knew.

    UsageOften the big reveal; in formal writing, revelation is the usual word.

    Similarrevelation

    Note

    Storytellers and camera operators use the noun for a disclosure that is staged. In film it can be pure camera work: Blain Brown's Cinematography: Theory and Practice (2002) describes a dolly or crane move that shifts the frame until something else comes into view. In comedy it is the turn that recasts the setup, as in "then came the reveal."

  3. 3
    from Godverbtransitive
    To disclose knowledge available only through instruction from God or a supernatural power.

    The angel revealed the prophecy to her in a dream.

    Believers hold that the deity chose to reveal sacred mysteries to the faithful.

    Similardisclose, divulge, tell

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    noun
    In building, the side surface of an opening for a window or door, running from the frame to the outer face of the wall.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of reveal apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This comes through Middle English revelen and Old French reveler from Latin revelare ("to reveal, uncover"), formed from re- ("back, again") plus velare ("to cover"), from velum ("a cloth, veil, covering, curtain, sail"), which also gave English veil, unveil, and voile.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 8 facts