conceal
Americanverb (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.
verb
-
to keep from discovery; hide
-
to keep secret
Synonym Usage
See hide 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
concealabilitynoun
-
concealednessnoun
-
concealernoun
-
concealmentnoun
-
concealableadjective
-
half-concealedadjective
-
half-concealingadjective
-
semiconcealedadjective
-
subconcealedadjective
-
unconcealedadjective
-
unconcealingadjective
-
well-concealedadjective
-
concealedlyadverb
-
unconcealinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
concealsimple
-
concealssimple
-
have concealedperfect
-
has concealedperfect
-
am concealingprogressive
-
are concealingprogressive
-
is concealingprogressive
-
have been concealingperfect progressive
-
has been concealingperfect progressive
Past
-
concealedsimple
-
had concealedperfect
-
was concealingprogressive
-
were concealingprogressive
-
had been concealingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing conceal
"Of Mice and Men"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Star Spangled Banner
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Black Ships Before Troy," Vocabulary from the myth
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The US Department of Justice has previously flagged Singapore as a key transit hub to conceal illegal shipments to China.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
Many said they planned to conceal the symbol to smuggle it into the stadium.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
Panish alleged that Erickson and the Grossmans had tried to conceal the total amount of their assets since the crash.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
“Training runs are far easier to conceal than missile silos.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Whichever it was to be tonight, Ranofer did not see how he could face Gebu and conceal the thing he knew, and he did not know what he was going to do about it.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
