unseal

verb

un·​seal ˌən-ˈsēl How to pronounce unseal (audio)
unsealed; unsealing; unseals

transitive verb

: to break or remove the seal of : open

Examples of unseal in a Sentence

The court unsealed the documents in the Douglas trial today.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Federal prosecutors also unseal a superseding indictment against Madigan and his longtime confidant McClain, adding allegations about the AT&T Illinois scheme. Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 According to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Manhattan, Shakeri—who authorities say has ties to Tehran's criminal underworld—was ordered by a contact within Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in September to prepare an assassination plan against Trump within a week. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025 Ahead of the hearing, the defense asked for the proceedings to be public and a briefing on the matter be unsealed, but Hippler denied the request. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025 The defense last week filed a motion to unseal the two sides’ IGG suppression filings, and asked that the hearing on that evidence be held in open court. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for unseal 

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unseal was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near unseal

Cite this Entry

“Unseal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseal. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

unseal

verb
un·​seal ˌən-ˈsē(ə)l How to pronounce unseal (audio)
ˈən-
: to break or remove the seal of

More from Merriam-Webster on unseal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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