# unfold

/ənˈfoʊɫd/ (US) · /ʌnfˈəʊld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unfold
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to open something folded

verb · CEFR B1

to open something that was folded, like a map, a letter, or a piece of clothing.

For teachers: to open or spread out something that has been folded. Transitive or intransitive use.

- He carefully unfolded the map to see which road they should take.
- She unfolded the linen napkins with precise movements, ensuring each one was perfectly flat before placing it on the dinner table.

### 2. to develop or happen

verb · CEFR B2

to happen or develop over time, like a story or a series of events.

For teachers: to develop or happen gradually; to be revealed as a sequence of events. Often used for narratives or complex situations.

- We watched the news to see how the dramatic events would unfold.
- As the investigation began to unfold, several inconsistencies in the witness statements became apparent to the detectives.

### 3. to reveal details

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to explain or show something in detail.

For teachers: to reveal or disclose thoughts, information, or a plan in a progressive manner.

- The director began to unfold his vision for the new film project.
- In his final speech, the philosopher sought to unfold the complex relationship between ethics and modern technology.

### 4. functional programming

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way in computer programming to create a list of data from a single value.

For teachers: a higher-order function that generates a data structure from a seed value; the dual of a fold operation.

- You can use an unfold to generate a sequence of numbers starting from one.
- The developer implemented an unfold to lazily generate the infinite sequence of Fibonacci numbers within the stream processing module.

## Examples

- We watched the drama unfold on the news.
- As the investigation began to unfold, the police discovered several pieces of evidence that changed their theory.
- The director allows the plot to unfold at a deliberate pace, ensuring that the audience feels the full weight of each character's revelation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.