Divulge: The Act of Revealing What Was Hidden

To divulge something is to make it known—especially something private, secret, or previously undisclosed. Whether in conversation, media, or suspenseful storytelling, the word often implies a certain weight or consequence behind what’s being revealed.





Definition



Divulge (verb):


  1. To make known something private, secret, or unknown
    “She refused to divulge the contents of the letter.”






Examples in Context



  • “The company declined to divulge details of the merger.”
  • “He finally divulged the truth about where he had been.”
  • “Sources who divulge classified information may face prosecution.”






Origin



From Latin divulgare, meaning “to make common, publish, or spread among the people” (di- meaning “widely” + vulgare, from vulgus, “the common people”).





Synonyms



  • Reveal
  • Disclose
  • Confess
  • Uncover
  • Leak






Antonyms



  • Conceal
  • Hide
  • Suppress
  • Withhold
  • Keep secret






Common Contexts



  • Personal: divulging secrets, emotions, past events
  • Professional: divulging financials, strategies, proprietary data
  • Dramatic: a character divulges a betrayal, a hidden identity, or a plot twist






Conclusion



To divulge is to cross a boundary—sometimes brave, sometimes dangerous—between what is hidden and what is known. It’s a powerful word for moments of confession, truth-telling, or exposure, whether in life, law, or literature.