reveal

re‧veal W1 AC /rɪˈviːl/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: ↑revealing, ↑revelatory; verb: ↑reveal; noun: ↑revelation; adverb: ↑revealingly]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: reveler, from Latin revelare 'to uncover', from velum; ⇨ ↑veil¹]
1. to make known something that was previously secret or unknown OPP conceal:
He may be prosecuted for revealing secrets about the security agency.
a test that can reveal a teacher’s hidden skills
reveal (that)
He revealed that he had been in prison twice before.
reveal yourself (as/to be something)
The violinist revealed himself as a talented interpreter of classical music.
2. to show something that was previously hidden OPP conceal:
The curtain opened to reveal the grand prize.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ reveal to let someone know about something that is secret or has not been known until now: Doctors are not allowed to reveal confidential information. | It was revealed that he had smoked marijuana at college.
▪ tell to talk about something to someone, so that they know about it: Don’t tell anyone about this just yet. | Shall I tell you a secret?
▪ disclose formal to publicly reveal something such as a fact or a name that has been kept secret: The terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. | The agent did not disclose that there had been a violent crime in the house.
▪ divulge \daɪˈvʌldʒ, də-\ formal to reveal important or personal information which was previously secret or unknown: The bank has refused to divulge its plans. | I’m afraid I cannot divulge what was said to me.
▪ make something public to tell people about important information, especially after it has been kept secret: Apparently they were engaged for some time before making it public. | The government has agreed that sources of financing should in future be made public.
▪ leak to deliberately give secret information to a newspaper, television company etc, when a government or other organization wants to keep it secret: The contents of the email were leaked to the press. | A man was charged today with leaking official secrets.
▪ give something away (also spill the beans informal) to tell someone something that you want to keep secret: He was careful not to give away any trade secrets. | I’m not going to give away how much I paid for it!
▪ let slip informal to accidentally tell someone about something: He let slip that he was envious of his older brother.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reveal / rɪˈviːl / verb [ T ]

B2 to make known or show something that is surprising or that was previously secret:

He was jailed for revealing secrets to the Russians.

[ + that ] Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought.

[ + question word ] He would not reveal wh ere he had hidden her chocolate eggs.

C2 to allow something to be seen that, until then, had been hidden:

A gap in the clouds revealed the Atlantic far below.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

reveal

[rɪvi͟ːl]
♦♦
reveals, revealing, revealed
1) VERB To reveal something means to make people aware of it.
  [V n] She has refused to reveal the whereabouts of her daughter...
  [V that] A survey of the British diet has revealed that a growing number of people are overweight...
  [it be V-ed that] After the fire, it was revealed that North Carolina officials had never inspected the factory...
  [V wh] No test will reveal how much of the drug was taken. [Also be V-ed as n]
2) VERB If you reveal something that has been out of sight, you uncover it so that people can see it.
  [V n] In the principal room, a grey carpet was removed to reveal the original pine floor.
  Syn:
  show

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reveal

re·veal /rɪˈviːl/ verb -veals; -vealed; -veal·ing [+ obj]
1 a : to make (something) known
• She would not reveal the secret.
• The test revealed the true cause of death.
• It was revealed that they stole over $1 million.
• They revealed the plans for the new building.
- opposite conceal
b : to show or prove that (someone) is a particular type of person - often + to be
• The book reveals him to be an expert at chess.
• She revealed herself to be a talented pianist.
- often + as
• She revealed the reporter as a liar.
2 : to show (something) plainly or clearly : to make (something that was hidden) able to be seen
• The expression on his face revealed how he felt.
• The curtain was lifted to reveal the grand prize.
• Pulling up the carpeting revealed the home's beautiful hardwood floors.
- opposite conceal