uncover

uncover — verb

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

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • conceal

    to keep something from being known or seen

  • hide

    to put something out of sight so others cannot find it

文法句型

uncover + noun phrase

uncover + wh-clause

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物B1
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • unveil

    specifically for removing a cloth or veil from an object

  • expose

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

反義詞
  • cover

    to put something over or on top of another thing

  • wrap

    to put material around something to protect or hide it

文法句型

uncover + noun phrase

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物B2
釋義

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.

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • bury

    to put something into the ground and cover it with earth

文法句型

uncover + noun phrase

用法筆記

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.