unfurl

verb

un·​furl ˌən-ˈfər(-ə)l How to pronounce unfurl (audio)
unfurled; unfurling; unfurls

transitive verb

: to release from a furled state

intransitive verb

: to open out from or as if from a furled state : unfold

Examples of unfurl in a Sentence

after the protestors had unfurled their banner, it stretched from one side of the visitors' gallery to the other
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The meal will unfurl over 12 courses with cooks serving the food. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2025 Halftime dancer unfurls Palestine flag during Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Super Bowl show, gets tackled by security The Center for Jewish Nonviolence shared videos on BlueSky taken by members of the organization and York University doctoral candidate Anna Lippman, which document the attack. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025 Trump is set to visit the UK on a second state visit soon; this time, the invitation from King Charles III was gleefully unfurled by Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, in the White House, and was met with tacit acceptance back home. Rob Picheta, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025 At a 1970 campus speech by Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, students in the gallery unfurled a banner that read: Fight Zionist Imperialism. Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unfurl

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfurl was in 1641

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Cite this Entry

“Unfurl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfurl. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

unfurl

verb
un·​furl ˌən-ˈfər(-ə)l How to pronounce unfurl (audio)
: to loose from a furled state : open or spread : unfold
unfurl sails
unfurl a flag

More from Merriam-Webster on unfurl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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