unearth

unearth — verb

1. to dig into the ground and bring something up from below the surface

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to dig into the ground and bring something up from below the surface

Example

Workers unearthing the foundation of the old temple found several clay pots.

unearth + object while [activity]

While building the new road, the crew unearthed a set of dinosaur bones.

Common collocations
  • unearthed from
  • unearthed by
  • unearthed [fossils]
  • unearthed [bones]
  • unearthed [ruins]
  • unearthed [treasure]
Synonyms
  • dig up

    more everyday, less formal than unearth

  • excavate

    more technical, used especially in archaeology

  • exhume

    specifically refers to digging up a dead body from a grave

Antonyms
  • bury

    to place something in the ground

  • inter

    formal term for burying a dead body

Grammar Patterns

unearth + noun phrase

unearth + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in archaeological and construction contexts. The passive form is common: bones / ruins / treasure were unearthed.

Common Mistakes

The workers digged up an old vase.
The workers unearthed an old vase.
'unearth' is a regular verb (unearthed, unearthed), not a strong verb like 'dig' (dug, dug).

2. to locate an object that was hidden, buried, or lost, whether by looking for it

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to locate an object that was hidden, buried, or lost, whether by looking for it or stumbling upon it

Example

Rachel unearthed a box of old photographs while cleaning out her grandmother's house.

unearthed + [hidden object] while [activity]

The gardener unearthed a rusted iron key while planting flowers in the backyard.

Common collocations
  • unearthed while
  • unearthed [secret]
  • unearthed [hidden]
  • unearthed [buried]
Synonyms
  • uncover

    broader; can mean removing a cover without implying digging

  • reveal

    focuses on making something visible rather than the act of finding

  • discover

    the most general term; can refer to any kind of finding

Antonyms
  • hide

    to put something where it cannot be easily seen or found

  • conceal

    more formal than hide

Grammar Patterns

unearth + noun phrase

Usage Note

The object is usually something that was deliberately hidden or lost for a long time, not simply misplaced.

Common Mistakes

She unearthed her phone under the sofa cushion.
She unearthed an old love letter hidden in the attic.
unearth suggests something hidden for a long time, not a casually dropped object.

3. to discover information or facts that were not previously known, especially by m

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to discover information or facts that were not previously known, especially by making a thorough investigation

Example

The journalist unearthed evidence that the company had been hiding its losses for years.

unearth + evidence that [clause]

A team of researchers unearthed documents showing the building was once a hospital.

Common collocations
  • unearthed [evidence]
  • unearthed [documents]
  • unearthed [truth]
  • unearthed [scandal]
  • unearthed during [investigation]
Synonyms
  • bring to light

    idiomatic; emphasises the transition from unknown to known

  • expose

    suggests the information is damaging and was being deliberately hidden

  • uncover

    general term for revealing what was hidden; slightly less effortful than unearth

  • ferret out

    informal; suggests persistent searching through hard-to-find sources

Antonyms
  • cover up

    to prevent damaging information from becoming known

  • suppress

    to stop information from being published or revealed

Grammar Patterns

unearth + noun phrase (evidence / documents / truth)

Usage Note

The subject is commonly a journalist, researcher, or investigation. The information discovered is often negative or secretive, such as evidence of corruption or hidden problems.

Common Mistakes

I unearthed that my friend likes pizza.
The reporter unearthed documents that proved the city council had accepted bribes.
unearth is too strong for trivial everyday discoveries; it implies significant or hidden information.

Word family

  • unearthing
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/3

All four words relate to finding something, but they differ in method and context. 'Unearth' is the most specific: it suggests something was buried or hidden, and effort was required to bring it to light — whether through physical digging or investigative work. 'Discover' is the broadest term; it simply means finding something for the first time, with no implication of digging or difficulty. 'Uncover' is closer to 'unearth' in figurative use, but tends to focus on the moment of revelation (removing a literal or figurative cover) rather than the sustained effort of searching. 'Excavate' is purely physical and technical, used almost exclusively for archaeology or construction — you cannot 'excavate' a secret. For example: a journalist unearths documents through weeks of archive research, uncovers the scheme when reading them, discovers a link between two politicians, while an archaeologist excavates the ruins where the documents were found.

unearth ↗discover ↗uncover ↗excavate

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old English (earth)English (un- + earth)

Formed in English by combining the prefix un- (meaning 'to reverse an action') with the noun earth ('the ground, soil'). First recorded in the 15th century with the literal meaning 'to dig up from the ground'. The figurative senses, referring to discovering hidden information, developed later during the 17th and 18th centuries.