unseal

American  

[uhn-seel] / ʌnˈsil /

verb (used with object)

1. to break or remove the seal of; open, as something sealed or firmly closed.

   to unseal a letter; to unseal a tomb.

2. to free from constraint, as a person's thought, speech, or behavior.

   Their friendship unsealed her vivacity.

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unseal British  

/ ʌnˈsiːl /

verb

1. to remove or break the seal of

2. to reveal or free (something concealed or closed as if sealed)

   to unseal one's lips

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Other Word Forms

• unsealable adjective

Etymology

Origin of unseal

1375–1425; late Middle English unselen; un- ², seal ¹

Example Sentences

As part of his ruling, Boasberg also granted the central bank’s request to unseal the proceedings related to the Fed’s effort to quash the subpoenas targeting its chair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

It also seeks to unseal the FBI's affidavit used to obtain the warrant from a federal magistrate judge.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

In order to unseal the Epstein documents, Congress was waiting for one last signature to put the matter to a vote.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2025

A US judge has denied a bid to unseal grand jury material from the investigation into disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

First he needed to unseal with the wheel, then he needed to yank the handle.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi