Word
unearth
Phoneticsun·earth, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈnɝθ/
UK/ʌnˈɜːθ/
Definition
v. to find something that was hidden or buried, either in the ground or in old records.
v. to dig up something from the ground, or to discover something hidden through intensive searching or investigation.
Examples
“The dog managed to unearth an old bone in the garden.”
“After weeks of research, the journalist managed to unearth documents that proved the company had lied.”
“Archaeologists hope to unearth evidence of a prehistoric settlement that predates the current ruins by several centuries.”
Examples
simple
“The dog managed to unearth an old bone in the garden.”
contextual
“After weeks of research, the journalist managed to unearth documents that proved the company had lied.”
complex
“Archaeologists hope to unearth evidence of a prehistoric settlement that predates the current ruins by several centuries.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unearth” in context.
Verb
01. unearth artifact
“The team managed to unearth several rare artifacts during the excavation.”
verb + noun
02. unearth evidence
“Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of a prehistoric settlement in the valley.”
verb + noun
03. unearth information
“The investigation unearthed new information regarding the suspect's whereabouts.”
verb + noun
04. unearth talent
“The competition aims to unearth young talent from across the country.”
verb + noun
05. unearth truth
“Journalists are working tirelessly to unearth the truth behind the scandal.”
verb + noun
06. unearth a hidden gem
“We managed to unearth a hidden gem of a restaurant in the backstreets of Rome.”
07. unearth a wealth of
“The researchers unearthed a wealth of data during their three-year study.”
08. unearth long-buried secrets
“The documentary unearths long-buried secrets about the family's past.”
Usage
Transitive — always takes a direct object. Often used metaphorically for discovering information.
Real-World Examples
“These cases are among hundreds unearthed through an investigation by The New York Times that draws on a database of people buried on the island since 1980.” “The magazine has previously unearthed pieces by Ernest Hemingway and Raymond Chandler.” “Experts estimated they had unearthed only around two percent of the contents of the vast fossil deposit, which sprawls over hundreds of square miles in southern Argentina.” “The background of the Pope was unearthed Thursday by a New Orleans genealogist, Jari C. Honora, and confirmed to The New York Times by the pope’s older brother, John Prevost, 71, who lives in the Chicago suburbs.” Etymology
From Middle English unherthen, formed as a compound of the prefix un- and the noun earth.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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