What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unreeling
Example
She spent hours unreeling the tangled fishing line. [unreeling: verb]
Example
The detective slowly unreels the story of the crime. [unreels: present tense]
unfurl
Example
The ship's sails unfurled as it caught the wind. [unfurl: verb]
Example
The artist unfurled her latest masterpiece for all to see. [unfurled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unfurl is more commonly used than unreeling in everyday language. Unfurl is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unreeling is less common and refers to a more specific action.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unreeling and unfurl?
Both unreeling and unfurl are relatively formal words, but unfurl may be slightly more formal due to its association with flags and other ceremonial objects.
