uncover

Compared meaning: make something hidden or secret known (verb).

比较义项：使隐藏或秘密的事情显露出来、为人所知（动词）。

• reveal

  Reveal is the general, neutral word for making something known; it works for facts, feelings, and secrets, and the action can even happen without a human agent.

  reveal 是较为中性、通用的说法，可用于表示揭示事实、情感或秘密，动作有时并非由人有意做出。

  Her nervous smile revealed how worried she really was.

  她紧张的笑容 revealed 出她心里其实有多担心。

• expose

  Expose usually carries a negative charge, showing that someone deliberately or accidentally brings wrongdoing, lies, or a hidden weakness into the open.

  expose 通常带有负面色彩，表示有意或无意地把不法行为、谎言或隐藏的弱点揭露出来。

  The investigation exposed corruption among several senior officials.

  调查 exposed 了多名高级官员的腐败行为。

• uncover 本词

  Uncover stresses a process of searching or investigating that brings hidden facts, evidence, or plots to light.

  uncover 强调通过搜寻或调查的过程，把隐藏的事实、证据或阴谋揭露出来。

  Detectives uncovered new evidence linking the suspect to the crime.

  警探 uncovered 了将嫌疑人与该案件联系起来的新证据。

• disclose

  Disclose is formal and typically used for official, legal, or financial information that a person or organization chooses, or is required, to make public.

  disclose 语气正式，常用于官方、法律或财务信息，指个人或机构选择公开，或依规定必须公开的信息。

  The bank must disclose all fees before a customer signs the contract.

  银行必须在客户签订合同之前 disclose 所有费用。

All four mean to make something hidden known. Reveal is neutral, general. Expose has a negative sense: wrongdoing or weakness. Uncover stresses a search that brings hidden facts to light. Disclose is formal, for official or legal information. Excludes uncover meaning 'take off a hat'.

这四个词都表示让隐藏或秘密的事情变得众所周知，但语气和使用场合不同：reveal 语气中性通用，可用于事实、情感、秘密等，动作也可以是无意的；expose 通常带贬义，多指揭发丑闻、错误或隐藏的弱点；uncover 强调经过调查、挖掘等过程发现被掩盖的事实；disclose 语气正式，多用于官方、法律或商业场合，指主动或依规定公开信息。此处不比较 uncover 的“脱帽致敬”这一义项。