verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ʌnˈfəːl/
General-American:/ʌnˈfɝl/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l
CMU ARPABET:AH0 N F ER1 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To unroll or release something that had been rolled up, typically a sail or a flag.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They unfurled the flag at the start of the festival.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: splay
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To roll out or debut anything.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
When will we be unfurling the new feature?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To open up by unrolling.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To turn out or unfold; to evolve; to progress.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
unfurl a banner
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unroll
Antonyms: roll up
Broader terms: change surface
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h2éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-West Germanic *anda- Old English and- Old English on- Middle English on- English un- English furl English unfurl From un- + furl.
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
разгъвам
(razgǎvam)
— to unroll or release
Bulgarian:
развявам
(razvjavam)
— to unroll or release
Dutch:
ontvouwen
— to unroll or release
Dutch:
ontrollen
— to unroll or release
Dutch:
afrollen
— to unroll or release
Dutch:
uitrollen
— to unroll or release
Esperanto:
malvolvi
— to unroll or release
Finnish:
aukaista
— to unroll or release
Finnish:
avata
— to unroll or release
French:
déployer
— to unroll or release
French:
dérouler
— to unroll or release
Galician:
despregar
— to unroll or release
German:
entfalten
— to unroll or release
German:
entrollen
— to unroll or release
German:
aufrollen
— to unroll or release
Irish:
scaoil
— to unroll or release
Italian:
srotolare
— to unroll or release
Italian:
spiegare
— to unroll or release
Latin:
explicō
— to unroll or release
Māori:
tākiri
— to unroll or release
Norwegian:
folde ut
— to unroll or release
Norwegian:
rulle ut
— to unroll or release
Polish:
rozwinąć
— to unroll or release
Polish:
rozwijać
— to unroll or release
Portuguese:
desfraldar
— to unroll or release
Romanian:
desfășura
— to unroll or release
Russian:
развёртывать
(razvjórtyvatʹ)
— to unroll or release
Russian:
развора́чивать
(razvoráčivatʹ)
— to unroll or release
Spanish:
desplegar
— to unroll or release
Spanish:
lagar
— to unroll or release
Swedish:
veckla ut
— to unroll or release
Finnish:
esitellä
— to roll out or debut
Finnish:
julkistaa
— to roll out or debut
Hebrew:
הוֹצִיא לָאוֹר
(hotsí la'ór)
— to roll out or debut
Hebrew:
שִׁחְרֵר
(shikhrér)
— to roll out or debut
