unearth

verb

un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth How to pronounce unearth (audio)
unearthed; unearthing; unearths
Synonyms of unearthnext

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 of unearth

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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
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.
People has retraced the album’s origins, unearthing anecdotes that seem straight out of a teen movie script. — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026 Excavators unearthed the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter aircraft from about 17 feet underground in the central Hungarian village of Törtel, which is located about 50 miles southeast of Budapest, museum officials said. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The process also unearthed a less familiar side of Eilish’s personal style. — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 The former taxi driver had been arrested three years earlier after police unearthed a mass grave in a forest ‌near the Indian Ocean town of Malindi, where his followers had been living in mud huts. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unearth

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unearth was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unearth

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Browse Nearby Words

unearned premium
unearth
unearthliness
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Cite this Entry

“Unearth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unearth. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unearth

verb
un·​earth ˌən-ˈərth How to pronounce unearth (audio)
ˈən-
1
: to drive or draw from the earth : dig up
unearth buried treasure
2
: to bring to light : discover
unearth a secret
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