ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reveal

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ɹiˈviɫ// UK //ɹɪvˈiːl// re·veal Academic General-service Informal

v. to show something that was hidden or keep a secret no longer. You use this when you let people see or know something for the first time.

v. to make previously unknown or hidden information known to others; to allow something to be seen that was previously obscured. Transitive — requires a direct object or a 'that' clause.


SIMPLE

The curtains open to reveal a beautiful stage.

CONTEXTUAL

The company plans to reveal its new smartphone model at the conference next week.

COMPLEX

The investigation failed to reveal any evidence of wrongdoing, though it did highlight several systemic flaws in the department's accounting procedures.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English revēlen, from Old French reveler, from Latin revēlāre (“to reveal, uncover”), from re- (“back, again”) + vēlāre (“to cover”), from vēlum (“a cloth, covering, curtain, veil, awning, sail”) (whence also English veil, English unveil, English voile, Russian вуаль (vualʹ), Russian завуали́ровать (zavualírovatʹ, “to veil”) (compare typologically)). Also compare typologically English uncloak, dismantle, divest, invest, unmask, Russian разобла́чать (razobláčatʹ) (akin to облаче́ние (oblačénije), срыва́ть покро́вы (sryvátʹ pokróvy) (покро́в (pokróv, “cover, covering”)).

Usage

The verb is transitive and often takes a direct object or a noun clause starting with 'that'.

Pitfall

The secret revealed yesterday.The secret was revealed yesterday.Reveal is a transitive verb; if the subject is the thing being shown, you must use the passive voice.

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