unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth 

unearthed; unearthing; unearths

transitive verb

1

: to dig up out of or as if out of the earth : exhume

unearth treasure

unearth an old photo album

2

: to make known or public : bring to light

unearth a scandal

Synonyms

• disinter
• exhume

Choose the Right Synonym for unearth

discover, ascertain, determine, unearth, learn mean to find out what one did not previously know.

discover may apply to something requiring exploration or investigation or to a chance encounter.

discovered the source of the river

ascertain implies effort to find the facts or the truth proceeding from awareness of ignorance or uncertainty.

attempts to ascertain the population of the region

determine emphasizes the intent to establish the facts definitely or precisely.

unable to determine the origin of the word

unearth implies bringing to light something forgotten or hidden.

unearth old records

learn may imply acquiring knowledge with little effort or conscious intention (as by simply being told) or it may imply study and practice.

I learned her name only today

learning Greek

Examples of unearth in a Sentence

An old document was unearthed from the files.

They unearthed evidence that he had accepted bribes.

Recent Examples on the Web

They were unearthed in the upper Strzelecki Group (about 121.4 to 118 million years old) and the Eumeralla Formation (about 113 to 108 million years old). —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2025

Read Next World Massive 2,500-year-old burial ground unearthed in Italian Alps. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025

But the audio communications NPR unearthed indicate there was also a breakdown in protocol regarding action after a wildfire begins, Wara said. —Graham Smith, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025

Most of those have yet to be unearthed from Gaza’s ruins, health officials said. —Rawan Sheikh Ahmad Saher Alghorra, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unearth

• childbirth
• rebirth
• stillbirth
• tamworth
• afterbirth
• berth
• birth
• dearth
• earth
• firth
• girth
• mirth

Kids Definition

unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth 

ˈən-

1

: to drive or draw from the earth : dig up

unearth buried treasure

2

: to bring to light : discover

unearth a secret