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Meaning & use

hide

verb, noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/haɪd/
US/haɪd/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    To put something or someone where it cannot easily be seen or found.

    Grammar: Takes an object: hide the keys. Past tense hid; past participle hidden.

    Patterns

    • hide something
    • hide something from someone
    • hide something in something

    She hid the gift in the closet.

    Children hid their toys from the babysitter.

    He tried to hide the letter behind a book.

  2. verbintransitive

    To go or stay where you cannot be seen or found.

    Grammar: No object; often followed by behind, under, or from.

    Patterns

    • hide from someone
    • hide behind something

    The cat hid under the sofa during the storm.

    We hid behind a tree until the car passed.

    The rabbit hides in the long grass.

  3. verbtransitive

    To keep a feeling or a fact secret from other people.

    Grammar: Takes an object like truth, feelings, or identity.

    Patterns

    • hide your feelings
    • hide the truth from someone

    He couldn't hide his disappointment.

    She hid the truth from her parents.

    The company hid the problem for months.

  4. nouncountable

    The skin of a large animal, especially when it is removed for making leather.

    Grammar: Often refers to the skin of cattle or horses.

    Patterns

    • cow hide
    • hide of an animal

    The hide was soaked and stretched to dry.

    A thick hide protects a rhino from thorns.

    The tannery buys hides from local farms.

  5. nouncountableBritish

    A small shelter where people watch birds or animals without being seen.

    Grammar: Chiefly British; Americans say blind.

    Patterns

    • a bird hide

    We waited in the hide for the owls to appear.

    The wetland park has three wooden hides.

    She photographed herons from the hide.

Word forms

third person singularhides
past tensehid
past participlehidden
-ing formhiding
pluralhides

Common combinations

hide the truth
He tried to hide the truth from his wife.
hide your feelings
She never hides her feelings.
hide and seek
The kids played hide and seek.
hide away
He hid away in his room to study.
hide behind
Don't hide behind excuses.
hide out
The thieves hid out in a cabin.

Synonyms and how they differ

conceal
Conceal is more formal and suggests a deliberate effort to keep something secret.
cover
Cover means to put something over an object, but hide means making it unseen in any way.
disguise
Disguise means changing appearance so something is not recognized, rather than putting it out of sight.
stash
Stash is informal and means to hide something valuable in a secret place.

Opposites

revealshowexpose

Word family

hidden adjective
not easily seen or known
hiding noun
the state of being out of sight
hideout noun
a secret place to stay
hideaway noun
a private, secluded retreat

Commonly confused: hide or hid vs hidden?

hide vs hid vs hidden

Hid is the simple past (she hid it). Hidden is the past participle (it was hidden).

Practice

Yesterday the dog ______ under the bed when the thunder started.

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