déployer

To unfurl, spread out, or deploy — a bird déploie ses ailes (spreads its wings), an army déploie des troupes (deploys troops), and a company or person déploie des efforts/une stratégie (musters effort, rolls out a strategy). One verb covering both the literal unfolding and the figurative mobilizing.

• L'aigle a déployé ses ailes avant de s'envoler. — The eagle spread its wings before flying off.
• L'armée a déployé des troupes à la frontière. — The army deployed troops to the border.
• Elle a déployé beaucoup d'efforts pour réussir. — She put in a great deal of effort to succeed.

Learners often reach for étendre (to stretch out/extend) for the physical sense — but déployer specifically implies something going from folded/compact to fully open (wings, a flag, a map), while étendre is about extending length or reach.

Often confused with étendre.