Meaning & use
conceals
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“conceals” is a form of “conceal”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Keeps something from being seen or known by other people.
Grammar: Takes an object: conceal a weapon; the object can also be a fact or feeling.
Patterns
- conceal something
- conceal something from someone
- conceal yourself
She conceals her nervousness behind a calm smile.
The company conceals the true cost of the repairs from buyers.
He conceals a small camera inside his jacket.
verbtransitive
Hides something so that it cannot be noticed or found.
Grammar: Often used of physical objects and places: the wall conceals a safe.
Patterns
- conceal something
- be concealed by something
A thick curtain conceals the doorway.
The entrance was concealed by tall bushes.
Snow concealed the path completely.
Word forms
| third person singular | conceals |
|---|---|
| past tense | concealed |
| past participle | concealed |
| -ing form | concealing |
Common combinations
- conceal the truth
- He tried to conceal the truth about the missing money.
- conceal your feelings
- Many people conceal their feelings at work.
- conceal something from someone
- She concealed the diagnosis from her family for months.
- carefully concealed
- The door was carefully concealed behind a bookshelf.
- barely concealed
- His barely concealed anger worried everyone at the table.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hide
- The everyday word; conceal sounds more formal and often suggests a deliberate purpose.
- cover up
- Suggests hiding a mistake or crime, often with several people involved.
- mask
- Used mainly about feelings or smells that you stop others from noticing.
Opposites
Word family
- concealment noun
- The act of hiding something or the state of being hidden.
- concealed adjective
- Hidden from view, as in a concealed camera.
- concealer noun
- A cosmetic used to hide marks on the skin.
Commonly confused: conceals or cancel?
conceals vs cancel
Cancel means to stop something arranged; conceal means to hide it. They sound similar but are unrelated in meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'conceals' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Conceal is transitive and takes a direct object, so 'conceals the main problem' is correct; the prepositions 'to', 'for' and 'with' cannot follow it directly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “conceals”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.