To reveal means to show or make known something that was hidden or secret. When you reveal the answer to a riddle, you're finally telling people what it is after keeping them guessing. When a magician reveals how a trick works, she's showing the hidden method behind the illusion.

Reveals happen in many contexts. A scientist might reveal her research findings at a conference, sharing discoveries with the world. An architect reveals the design for a new building by showing the plans to the client. You might reveal a surprise party by accidentally mentioning it, or a detective might reveal the identity of the culprit after carefully examining all the clues.

The word carries a sense of unveiling or uncovering. When something is revealed, it moves from hidden to visible, from secret to known. A revelation (a related noun) can be dramatic, like when you discover something surprising about a friend, or simple, like when morning light reveals frost patterns on a window.

Writers and filmmakers use reveals carefully to create suspense. They might slowly reveal information bit by bit, or save a shocking reveal for the perfect moment. The power of a good reveal lies in the surprise, in that moment when hidden truth becomes suddenly clear.