Unveil

Unveil is a verb that means to remove a veil from something, thereby exposing it to view. More broadly, it describes revealing or disclosing something that has been hidden, secret, or previously unknown. The term is commonly used for both the physical act of uncovering and the public revelation of information, plans, works of art, or products. The noun form unveiling refers to the act or event of revealing.

Etymology: Unveil derives from the noun veil with the prefix un-, tracing back to Old French voile and related to Latin velum in reference to a covering. The construction conveys the ceremonial or deliberate removal of a cover to show what lies beneath.

Usage: Unveil is frequently employed in ceremonial contexts, such as the unveiling of statues, monuments, or memorials, and in corporate or media contexts, such as unveiling a new product, feature, or report. It carries a sense of formality or significance, and often implies anticipation or ceremony. It can be transitive: The company unveiled its latest model. It can also be used metaphorically: Scientists unveiled new evidence; a government unveiled policy proposals.

Nuance and related terms: Unveil emphasizes the removal of concealment and is somewhat more formal than synonyms like reveal or disclose. It differs from unmask or uncover, which can carry implications of exposing deception or discovering something hidden, whereas unveiling often carries a positive or neutral connotation. Related concepts include product launches, press conferences, and ceremonial events.