Divulge
/daɪˈvʌldʒ/
verbB2
Definition
To divulge means to give out or reveal information that was hidden or private. People usually keep this information secret, but when they divulge it, they let others know something important or confidential.
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⚡ See It in Action
To reveal secret or private information
- •She refused to divulge the name of the person who called.
- •The company will not divulge its financial data to the public.
- •He accidentally divulged the surprise party plans.
To make known something that was previously hidden
- •The report divulged new facts about the investigation.
- •Journalists try to divulge the truth behind political stories.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "divulge" like "tell," but for secrets or private information that is not usually shared.
- ✓Picture a person whispering a secret in a quiet room, then suddenly speaking it out loud so everyone hears.
- ✓It's the feeling when you finally tell a friend something you have kept inside for a long time.
- ✓Sounds like "die-VULJ" → imagine a villain revealing a secret plan loudly, surprising everyone.
- ✓In stories, a spy might divulge secret information to help the good team.
- ✓NOT like "say" (which can be anything), "divulge" is only for important or secret information.
- ✓NOT like "hide" (keep secret), "divulge" means to do the opposite and share the secret.
- ✓NOT like "announce" (public and planned), "divulge" often feels private or unexpected.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Reveal: to make known something hidden (Use when you want to focus on showing something that was secret)
- •Disclose: to give information that was private (Use in formal or official contexts)
- •Share: to tell or give information to others (Use when the information is not necessarily secret)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "di-" (through, apart) + root "vulg" (from Latin "vulgus" meaning common people or public)
- •Etymology: From Latin "divulgare," meaning to spread among the people or make public
- •Historical development: Originally meant to spread information widely; now often refers to revealing secrets or private facts
- •Modern usage: Used mainly when someone reveals private, secret, or confidential information, often carefully or reluctantly
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When is it good or bad to divulge information? Can sharing secrets always be helpful?
•How does the idea of trust connect to the decision to divulge or keep information private?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She refused to divulge ___ about her personal life to strangers.
2.The detective tried to get the witness to divulge ___ related to the case.
3.Unlike normal talking, to divulge usually means sharing ___ or important facts.
4.Journalists often try to divulge ___ that people want to keep secret.
5.When someone divulges information, it often causes ___ or surprise.
6.Companies do not usually divulge ___ details about their business plans.
7.He accidentally divulged the secret by ___ to the wrong person.