conceal

[ kuh n-seel ]

/ kənˈsil /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR conceal ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

Origin of conceal

1275–1325; Middle English conselen, concelen < Anglo-French conceler < Latin concēlāre, equivalent to con- con- + cēlāre to hide (akin to hull¹, Greek koleón scabbard (see Coleoptera); cf. occult)

SYNONYMS FOR conceal

1. See hide¹.

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Related forms

con·ceal·a·ble, adjectivecon·ceal·a·bil·i·ty, nouncon·ceal·ed·ly, adverbcon·ceal·ed·ness, noun

con·ceal·er, nounhalf-con·cealed, adjectivehalf-con·ceal·ing, adjectivepre·con·ceal, verb (used with object)re·con·ceal, verb (used with object)sem·i·con·cealed, adjectivesub·con·cealed, adjectiveun·con·cealed, adjectiveun·con·ceal·ing, adjectiveun·con·ceal·ing·ly, adverbwell-con·cealed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for conceal

As great as this feat was, an equally demanding test followed: to conceal from the Nazis that Enigma had been beaten.
The Castration of Alan Turing, Britain’s Code-Breaking WWII Hero|Clive Irving|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many of those gathering in the run-up to the grand jury decision wore hockey and tear gas masks to conceal their identity.
Justice Was Served in Ferguson—This Isn’t Jim Crow America|Ron Christie|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I maintain that our mistake was in overthinking our criminal's desire to conceal the body.
Knowing Where the Bodies Are Buried: An Excerpt From 'Lives in Ruins'|Marilyn Johnson|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Call them Trojan horse foods: nutritiously pleasing ingredients (oats, yogurts) that conceal a whole host of junk.
Your Health Food’s Hidden Sugar Bomb|Michael Schulson|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Businessmen and churchgoers find it difficult to conceal while wearing a shirt and tie.
A Gun Owner Speaks: My Case for Open Carry|CJ Grisham|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I bowed my head to conceal the expression which might have told his lordship that I intended to do nothing of the kind.
The International Spy|Allen Upward
She made desperate efforts to control her grief, and conceal the tears that rolled in quick succession down her pale cheeks.
Flora Lyndsay|Susanna Moodie
He did not conceal anything; he merely outlined without filling in the bare suggestion.
Money Magic|Hamlin Garland
The gesture, together with his forward-tilted hat, served to conceal the fact that he was masked.
The Lone Ranger Rides|Fran Striker
"Yes, we will swear it," answered Leonard, who could not conceal the anguish of his anxiety.
The People Of The Mist|H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for conceal

conceal

/ (kənˈsiːl) /

verb (tr)

to keep from discovery; hide

to keep secret

Derived Formsconcealable, adjectiveconcealer, nounconcealment, noun

Word Origin for conceal

C14: from Old French conceler, from Latin concēlāre, from com- (intensive) + cēlāre to hide

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

Word Origin and History for conceal

conceal

early 14c., concelen, from Old French conceler "to hide, conceal, dissimulate," from Latin concelare "to hide," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + celare "to hide," from PIE root *kel- "to hide" (see cell). Replaced Old English deagan. Related: Concealed; concealing.

conceal

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of conceal

Examples from the Web for conceal

conceal

verb (tr)

Word Origin for conceal

conceal