uncover

uncover — verb

1. to discover facts or information that people have tried to keep hidden, includin

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to discover facts or information that people have tried to keep hidden, including secret plans or illegal activity.

Example

The journalist uncovered evidence that the company had been hiding its pollution for years.

uncover + evidence of wrongdoing

An investigation by the bank's own team uncovered a series of illegal money transfers.

passive investigation + uncovers + illegal activity

Common collocations
  • uncover the truth
  • uncover evidence
  • uncover a plot
  • uncover a scandal
  • uncover a secret
  • uncover fraud
Synonyms
  • reveal

    broader — anything hidden can be revealed, not only secrets that were deliberately concealed

  • expose

    stronger negative tone, implies bringing something shameful or illegal to public attention

  • disclose

    more formal; often implies a deliberate sharing of private information by someone who had access to it

Antonyms
  • conceal

    to keep something from being known or seen

  • hide

    to put something out of sight so others cannot find it

Grammar Patterns

uncover + noun phrase

uncover + wh-clause

Usage Note

Commonly takes nouns such as 'truth', 'evidence', 'plot', 'scandal', or 'fraud' as its object. The subject is typically a person or investigative body doing deliberate research.

Common Mistakes

The police uncovered the robber.
The police caught the robber.
'uncover' means discovering a secret or hidden thing, not capturing a person.
She uncovered what time the meeting starts.
She found out what time the meeting starts.
'uncover' implies that the information was deliberately hidden, not merely unknown.

2. to take off the thing that is on top of or around something so that what is unde

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to take off the thing that is on top of or around something so that what is underneath can be seen.

Example

The chef uncovered the pot of soup and let the steam rise into the kitchen.

uncover + cooking vessel

Élise carefully uncovered the old painting by peeling away the layers of dust and cloth.

Common collocations
  • uncover a pot
  • uncover a painting
  • uncover furniture
  • uncover a dish
  • uncover a statue
Synonyms
  • unveil

    specifically for removing a cloth or veil from an object

  • expose

    to reveal something by removing what protects or covers it, often suddenly

Antonyms
  • cover

    to put something over or on top of another thing

  • wrap

    to put material around something to protect or hide it

Grammar Patterns

uncover + noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly used with household objects such as pots, bowls, furniture, or paintings. The action is usually careful and deliberate.

Common Mistakes

She uncovered the baby with a blanket.
She covered the baby with a blanket.
'uncover' means removing a cover, not putting one on.

3. to locate objects that have been buried in the ground by digging away the soil a

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to locate objects that have been buried in the ground by digging away the soil above them, typically as part of scientific or historical exploration.

Example

The archaeological team uncovered the remains of an ancient Roman village near the river.

uncover + remains / ruins (archaeology)

Workers digging a foundation uncovered a set of bones from the eighteenth century.

Common collocations
  • uncover remains
  • uncover ruins
  • uncover artifacts
  • uncover bones
  • uncover a tomb
Synonyms
  • excavate

    more methodical and scientific; implies careful, planned digging rather than accidental discovery

  • dig up

    informal alternative, used in everyday speech for finding buried objects

Antonyms
  • bury

    to put something into the ground and cover it with earth

Grammar Patterns

uncover + noun phrase

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is about discovering abstract secrets, while sense 3 specifically involves physical digging. The subject is often an archaeologist, construction crew, or research team.

Word family

  • uncovered
    adjectiveB2
  • uncovering
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Uncover, reveal, disclose, and expose all involve making something known, but they differ in tone and use. 'Uncover' suggests active discovery of something deliberately hidden — like a journalist finding evidence of a crime. 'Reveal' is broader: anything hidden can be revealed, whether or not it was intentionally concealed, and the information often comes from a statement or event. 'Disclose' is more formal and usually describes a deliberate sharing of private information by someone who had access to it, such as a company disclosing its earnings. 'Expose' carries the strongest negative tone — it implies bringing something shameful, illegal, or corrupt into public view, often against the wishes of those involved. For example: a reporter uncovers a fraud, a company discloses its financial data, and a scandal is exposed by a whistleblower.

reveal ↗disclose ↗expose ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Uncover was formed in Middle English from the prefix un- (meaning 'to reverse an action') and the verb cover, which entered English from Old French covrir. The original meaning was literal — removing a physical covering. The figurative sense of 'discovering a secret' developed during the 1500s.