uncover
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to take a lid, cloth, or other covering off something so you can see what is underneath.
to remove a physical covering from an object, exposing its surface or contents.
Simple“He uncovered the dish to show the guests the meal he had prepared.”
In context“Archaeologists carefully uncovered the mosaic floor, removing layers of sediment that had protected the tiles for centuries.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to discover something that was hidden or kept secret, like a crime or a truth.
to reveal or bring to light information, facts, or activities that were previously hidden or unknown.
Simple“The police uncovered a plan to steal the famous painting from the museum.”
In context“The investigative journalist worked for months to uncover the corruption within the local government's housing department.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to find out who someone really is, especially if they were hiding their name.
to reveal the true identity of a person who is operating under a pseudonym or in disguise.
Simple“The reporter managed to uncover the identity of the anonymous donor.”
In context“Intelligence agencies spent years attempting to uncover the true identity of the double agent operating within their ranks.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
to move soldiers so that the lines behind them can be seen or can fire.
to expose lines of troop formations successively by moving the units in front of them to the side.
Simple“The commander ordered the front line to move and uncover the cannons.”
In context“By wheeling the lead battalion to the left, the general was able to uncover his reserve forces at the critical moment of the engagement.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
to take off your hat to show respect to someone.
to remove one's headgear as a gesture of respect or during a formal ceremony.
Simple“The men uncovered as the funeral procession passed by on the street.”
In context“It was once standard etiquette for gentlemen to uncover when entering a church or meeting a lady.”
Synonymsdoff
Usage uncover the truth
“Then, by carefully examining the similarities and differences between fossil teeth and the teeth of living animals , we can uncover a great deal about animals that lived in the past.”
“I work in Saad Bhamla’s lab , where we ask simple questions about nature and uncover the rich physics behind them.”
From Middle English uncoveren, equivalent to un- + cover.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.