Synonyms

conceal

American

[kuhn-seel] / kənˈsil /

verb (used with object)

to hide; withdraw or remove from observation; cover or keep from sight.

He concealed the gun under his coat.
to keep secret; to prevent or avoid disclosing or divulging.

to conceal one's identity by using a false name.

conceal British

/ kənˈsiːl /

verb

to keep from discovery; hide
to keep secret

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See hide ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of conceal

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English conselen, concelen, from Anglo-French conceler from Latin concēlāre, from con- con- + cēlāre “to hide” ( see also hull ¹)

Explanation

When you conceal something, you are keeping it from being discovered: “To avoid another argument with his cousins, Jonathan worked hard to conceal his disappointment at the outcome of the race.” The verb conceal can be used to describe the hiding of feelings (as in “to conceal anger”) or facts (as in “to conceal identity”). Conceal also can be used to describe the act of hiding or covering an item to prevent discovery. If you eat the last piece of chocolate cake, for example, you may want to conceal the evidence by removing the icing-stained plate from your room.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

conceal conceals concealed concealing

A federal grand jury indicted Beirich for participating in an alleged scheme to conceal the source of the funds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Fraser had deleted texts from his own phone to conceal his relationship with Broadus.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

But for the mom, who goes by “TJ” online to conceal her identity, the reality was more complicated.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Tensions surrounding the protests became so intense that some TV journalists opted to conceal the name and logo of their organisations.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

After all, we must conceal our location and mind the Secrets Act as well.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Taiwan, once widely known as Formosa, conceals a remarkable natural world within its steep and rugged interior.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

The presidency is a skin suit that barely conceals this ambition.

From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026

The network of shadow fleet tankers conceals their role in transporting oil from Iran, Russia and other sanctioned countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026

Heusinger’s James has a seductive earnestness that conceals some shocking character developments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025

I examine it and find a tiny pocket that both secures and conceals the pill.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

In my newfound visibility, I doubled down on the style that concealed something — anything — about me, if only a few inches of forehead.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Many are deployed on mobile truck-mounted launchers or concealed within hardened underground coastal missile bases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The Daily Telegraph said it had obtained unredacted plans that showed Beijing reportedly plans to construct a "concealed chamber" among "secret rooms" underneath the embassy which would be close to sensitive underground communications cables.

From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026

Europa has captivated scientists for decades because a vast ocean of liquid water may be concealed beneath its frozen surface.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

Second, they also contained a concealed device that set a hair-trigger.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

It even mentions tests on concealing a device inside a tape recorder.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Senate Majority Leader John Thune isn’t concealing his disinterest in what the House is offering, saying that he wants to focus on government funding instead.

From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026

In December, a Milwaukee federal jury found Dugan guilty of obstructing law enforcement but acquitted her on a charge of concealing a man wanted by immigration authorities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

All received 50-year sentences but Rueda, who instead received 70 years, as she was also convicted of corruptly concealing a document.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

It is a testament to our confraternity, however, that a curious ground of agreement was eventually reached: the necessity of concealing all mourning at the smallpox burials, and displaying only dancing and festival triumph.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023