VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

hidden depths

noun·Everydayfigurative

Last updated

UK/ˌhɪdn̩ ˈdepθs/
US/ˌhɪdn̩ ˈdepθs/

Meanings

  1. nounusually pluralfigurative

    Qualities, talents or feelings in a person that are not obvious at first and surprise you when they appear.

    Grammar: Usually plural and often follows have: he has hidden depths.

    Patterns

    • have hidden depths
    • hidden depths in someone

    The quiet new teacher turned out to have hidden depths, including a gift for poetry.

    His shy manner hides hidden depths that few people ever see.

    The film reveals hidden depths in a character who seems simple at first.

  2. nounplural

    Deep parts of the sea, a lake or the earth that cannot be seen from the surface.

    Grammar: Plural, usually with of: the hidden depths of the ocean.

    Patterns

    • the hidden depths of something

    Divers explored the hidden depths of the flooded cave.

    Scientists have only recently begun to study the hidden depths of the ocean.

Common combinations

have hidden depths
My cousin has hidden depths and writes beautiful music.
reveal hidden depths
The interview revealed hidden depths in the athlete.
full of hidden depths
The novel is full of hidden depths.
plumb the hidden depths
The therapist helped her plumb the hidden depths of her feelings.
hidden depths of the ocean
The submarine explored the hidden depths of the ocean.

Synonyms and how they differ

unexpected talents
Unexpected talents refers only to skills, whereas hidden depths can include feelings and complexity.
secret layers
Secret layers is a more poetic way to say a person or story has many levels of meaning.
complexity
Complexity is more abstract and does not suggest the pleasant surprise of hidden depths.
undercurrents
Undercurrents are hidden feelings or tensions below the surface, often negative, while hidden depths are typically admirable.

Opposites

shallownesssuperficiality

Word family

hide verb
to keep out of sight
hidden adjective
not seen or known
depth noun
how deep something is, or profound quality
deep adjective
extending far down or inward
deeply adverb
to a great degree

Commonly confused: hidden depths or hidden agenda?

hidden depths vs hidden agenda

A hidden agenda is a secret, often selfish purpose, whereas hidden depths are surprising and usually admirable qualities.

Practice

Everyone thought Mark was dull, but his short stories showed that he had ___.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “hidden depths”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words