unsealing
/ʌnˈsiːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈsiːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈsēl How to pronounce unseal (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unsealing — verb
- unsealingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- unsealings3rd person singular
- unsealinging-ing form
- unsealingedpast simple
1. when a court or judge issues an instruction that confidential papers must become
when a court or judge issues an instruction that confidential papers must become visible to the public or to legal teams, they are unsealing those documents
The judge ordered the unsealing of the court records from the 2019 trial.
passive: ordered the unsealing of [documents]
After the investigation ended, the prosecutor requested the unsealing of the evidence files.
The newspaper argued that the public interest justified the unsealing of the government report.
Lawyers for both sides agreed to the unsealing of the settlement documents.
- seal
the opposite action — to place a legal restriction on access to documents
文法句型
unseal + noun phrase (documents / records / files)
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive or gerund form (the unsealing of...). The subject is typically a court, judge, or legal authority. This sense is specific to legal proceedings where a seal of confidentiality is removed by judicial order.
常見錯誤
2. to break the seal on a container or item that was closed so tightly that no air,
to break the seal on a container or item that was closed so tightly that no air, water, or other substance could pass through it — for example, opening a vacuum-packed jar of jam or a factory-sealed container of chemicals
Hao carefully unsealed the jar of homemade pickles that his grandmother had sent.
unseal + jar / container
The technician unsealed the vacuum-packed circuit board before installing it in the server.
Firefighters had to unseal the emergency hatch to reach the survivors inside the building.
Camila unsealed the plastic wrap around the medical equipment in the operating room.
- seal
to close tightly so nothing can get in or out
文法句型
unseal + noun phrase (container / jar / package)
用法筆記
The object is typically a container, jar, hatch, or package that was sealed to protect its contents from the outside environment. Unlike sense 3, this refers to a physical seal that prevents air, water, or contamination from passing through.
3. when you slit or tear along the glued flap of an envelope or small package in or
when you slit or tear along the glued flap of an envelope or small package in order to reach what is inside, you are unsealing it
Felix unsealed the envelope and pulled out the wedding invitation.
unseal + envelope / letter
Asher unsealed the package carefully to avoid tearing the gift wrapping inside.
The clerk unsealed several boxes of official documents for the annual audit.
Evelyn unsealed the manila envelope that contained her signed employment contract.
- seal
to stick the edges of an envelope or package closed
文法句型
unseal + noun phrase (envelope / letter / package)
用法筆記
The object is specifically something with glued edges (envelope flap, package seal). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 is about envelopes and letters with adhesive flaps, not about airtight / watertight containers.
常見錯誤
4. to make encrypted digital data readable or usable again by removing the cryptogr
to make encrypted digital data readable or usable again by removing the cryptographic protection, using a password, key, or specialized software
The security team unsealed the encrypted database after receiving the access code from management.
unseal + encrypted database / data
Lakshmi used a specialized tool to unseal the password-protected hard drive.
The recovery software automatically unseals encrypted backup files during the restore process.
The company's IT department unsealed the encrypted emails after the employee's resignation.
- encrypt
to protect digital data by converting it into a coded format
文法句型
unseal + noun phrase (data / files / drive / backup)
用法筆記
Common in computing, cybersecurity, and digital forensics contexts. The object is a digital entity — data, files, drives, or communications. It is a technical term, typically found in formal or professional writing rather than everyday speech.