unseal

/ʌnˈsiːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈsiːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈsēl/ (ame, mw)

unseal — verb

  • unsealpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • unseals3rd person singular
  • unsealing-ing form
  • unsealedpast simple

1. to order that private records or papers can now be read by the public or by lawy

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to order that private records or papers can now be read by the public or by lawyers

例句

After the appeal, the judge unsealed the witness statements for both lawyers.

court or judge unseals legal documents

The federal court unsealed the contract a week before the election.

同義詞
  • release

    broader and less tied to sealed legal material

  • disclose

    focuses on revealing information, not on a court order

  • declassify

    used more for official secrets than for court files

反義詞
  • seal

    to place the documents under restricted access

  • withhold

    to keep the material from being shown or shared

文法句型

unseal + records/documents/file

court/judge/agency unseals + noun phrase

用法筆記

Usually used in court and government news. The subject is often a judge, court, or agency rather than an ordinary person.

常見錯誤

❌The court opened the secret records yesterday.
✅The court unsealed the secret records yesterday.
💡in legal contexts, unseal shows that access restrictions were formally removed.

2. to break or lift a seal so that a closed container, package, or wrapped item can

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to break or lift a seal so that a closed container, package, or wrapped item can be opened

例句

Pim unsealed the jam jar and spread some on warm toast.

unseal + jar or package before using it

The nurse unsealed a fresh bandage pack beside the hospital bed.

同義詞
  • open

    the general verb, without focus on a seal

  • unwrap

    used when covering material is removed rather than a seal being broken

  • uncover

    focuses on taking off a cover, not on breaking a seal

反義詞
  • seal

    to close something so air or liquid cannot get in or out

  • reseal

    to close the item again after opening it

文法句型

unseal + jar/package/container

unseal + noun phrase + with + tool

用法筆記

Used when a seal, strip, or tight cover must be broken first. Distinguish from sense 3, which is mainly for letters and glued paper edges.

常見錯誤

❌Can you unseal the bedroom door for me?
✅Can you unlock the bedroom door for me?
💡unseal is for sealed packaging or containers, not for ordinary locked doors.

3. to pull apart the stuck edge of an envelope, letter, or similar paper packet in

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to pull apart the stuck edge of an envelope, letter, or similar paper packet in order to get inside

例句

Élise unsealed the brown envelope before the bus reached campus.

unseal + envelope or letter

Felix carefully unsealed the old letter without tearing the thin paper.

carefully unsealed + paper item

同義詞
  • open

    the general verb, with no focus on the glued edge

  • slit open

    suggests cutting the top edge with a knife or opener

  • tear open

    rougher and less careful than unseal

反義詞
  • seal

    to close the envelope or packet by sticking it shut

  • reseal

    to stick the paper item closed again

文法句型

unseal + envelope/letter/packet

unseal + noun phrase + without + tearing

用法筆記

Usually used for paper items closed along the edge with glue. Distinguish from sense 2, which is broader and includes jars, tins, and medical packs.

常見錯誤

❌I unsealed the email before breakfast.
✅I opened the email before breakfast.
💡unseal is used for physical sealed paper items, not for ordinary digital messages.

4. to make encrypted files, messages, or other digital information readable or usab

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make encrypted files, messages, or other digital information readable or usable again

例句

Vivek unsealed the backup files with the recovery key.

unseal + encrypted data with a key

After the update, the app unsealed old messages from the archive.

同義詞
  • decrypt

    the most exact technical term for turning coded data back into readable form

  • decode

    broader and can refer to other kinds of coded material

  • unlock

    broader and often used for gaining access to a device or account

反義詞
  • encrypt

    to protect data by turning it into coded form

  • lock

    to block access to a file, device, or account

文法句型

unseal + files/data/messages

unseal + noun phrase + with + key/password

用法筆記

Common in security and software writing. The object is encrypted information, not a physical package or a court file.

常見錯誤

❌I unsealed the folder on my desktop.
✅I opened the folder on my desktop.
💡unseal in computing usually implies encryption or protected access, not a normal click to open.