Standard Lemma guide

unmask

verb · 8 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ʌnˈmæsk/
  • UK: /ʌnˈmɑːsk/
  • US: /ʌnˈmæsk/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æsk
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N M AE1 S K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remove a mask from someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To expose, or reveal the true character of someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To remove one's mask.

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 cease engaging in masking, to cease disguising one's autism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To expose something that was concealed or shielded from an enemy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To enable (an interrupt, etc.) by unsetting or setting the associated bit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

reveal the true nature of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The journal article unmasked the corrupt politician

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uncloak

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: debunk, expose

8

verb

Meaning 8

take the mask off

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unmask the imposter

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: mask

Broader terms: uncover, expose

History

Etymology

From un- + mask. Compare typologically reveal (see more).

Across languages

Translations

54 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: свалям маската (svaljam maskata) — to remove a mask from someone
  • Catalan: desemmascarar — to remove a mask from someone
  • Czech: odmaskovat — to remove a mask from someone
  • Czech: sundat masku — to remove a mask from someone
  • Dutch: ontmaskeren — to remove a mask from someone
  • Esperanto: senmaskigi — to remove a mask from someone
  • Finnish: paljastaa — to remove a mask from someone
  • French: démasquer — to remove a mask from someone
  • Galician: desenmascarar — to remove a mask from someone
  • Italian: smascherare — to remove a mask from someone
  • Polish: zrzucić maskę — to remove a mask from someone
  • Serbo-Croatian: raskrinkati — to remove a mask from someone
  • Spanish: desenmascarar — to remove a mask from someone
  • Swedish: avmaskera — to remove a mask from someone
  • Turkish: Birisinin maskesini düşürmek — to remove a mask from someone
  • Welsh: tynnu masg — to remove a mask from someone
  • Armenian: դիմակազերծել (dimakazercel) — to expose the true character of someone
  • Bulgarian: разобличавам (razobličavam) — to expose the true character of someone
  • Catalan: desemmascarar — to expose the true character of someone
  • Czech: odhalit — to expose the true character of someone
  • Czech: demaskovat — to expose the true character of someone
  • Czech: prozradit — to expose the true character of someone
  • Czech: ukázat pravou tvář — to expose the true character of someone
  • Czech: sundat masku — to expose the true character of someone
  • Czech: strhnout masku — to expose the true character of someone
  • Dutch: ontmaskeren — to expose the true character of someone
  • Esperanto: senmaskigi — to expose the true character of someone
  • Finnish: paljastaa — to expose the true character of someone
  • French: révéler — to expose the true character of someone
  • French: dévoiler — to expose the true character of someone
  • French: démasquer — to expose the true character of someone
  • Italian: smascherare — to expose the true character of someone
  • Italian: palesare — to expose the true character of someone
  • Italian: scoprire — to expose the true character of someone
  • Polish: zrzucić maskę — to expose the true character of someone
  • Portuguese: desmascarar — to expose the true character of someone
  • Serbo-Croatian: raskrinkati — to expose the true character of someone
  • Spanish: descubrir — to expose the true character of someone
  • Spanish: revelar — to expose the true character of someone
  • Spanish: demostrar — to expose the true character of someone
  • Swedish: avmaskera — to expose the true character of someone
  • Welsh: datguddio — to expose the true character of someone
  • Catalan: desemmascarar-se — to remove one's mask
  • Czech: odmaskovat se — to remove one's mask
  • Czech: sundat masku — to remove one's mask
  • Esperanto: senmaskiĝi — to remove one's mask
  • Finnish: paljastaa (kasvonsa) — to remove one's mask
  • French: se démasquer — to remove one's mask
  • Italian: smascherarsi — to remove one's mask
  • Polish: zrzucić maskę — to remove one's mask
  • Spanish: desenmascararse — to remove one's mask
  • Swedish: ta av sin mask — to remove one's mask
  • Turkish: Birisinin maskesini düşürmek — to remove one's mask
  • Welsh: tynnu masg — to remove one's mask