Word
divulge
Phoneticsdi·vulge, stress on the second syllable
US/daɪˈvəɫdʒ/
UK/daɪvˈʌldʒ/
Definition
v. to tell someone a secret or a piece of private information. You usually do this when you are allowed to or when it is necessary.
v. to make known or reveal information that was previously secret or private. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The witness refused to divulge the name of the person.”
“The company will not divulge the exact figures of the new contract until the official press release is published.”
“Despite the intense pressure from the investigators, the suspect remained silent and refused to divulge any information regarding the location of the missing evidence.”
Examples
simple
“The witness refused to divulge the name of the person.”
contextual
“The company will not divulge the exact figures of the new contract until the official press release is published.”
complex
“Despite the intense pressure from the investigators, the suspect remained silent and refused to divulge any information regarding the location of the missing evidence.”
Real-World Examples
“Police said some of the victims were on their watch in connection with illegal activities, which they could not "divulge at the moment to protect investigations which have been launched".” “She gave that information to Rajput, who innocently divulged that to others.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English divulgen, from Latin dīvulgō + -en (verb-forming suffix), from dī- (“widely”) + vulgō (“to make known, announce; to publish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/divulge