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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

It was soon found that Hussain had made significant efforts to conceal his real identity to avoid detection.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

And he used a cartoon avatar known as Bitmoji on Snapchat to conceal his age and present himself as a “a young, innocuous, and friendly looking boy.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 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

But hidden drawers, lockable diaries and cryptographic systems could not conceal from Briony the simple truth: she had no secrets.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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

From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026

However, this apparent balance conceals strong regional differences.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 25, 2026

Pop Mart is best known for selling toys in "blind boxes" - a type of packaging that conceals its contents until it is opened.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025

State insurance regulators, worried the financial engineering conceals risks, this summer selected around 100 mostly offshore deals for extra scrutiny.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2025

But the crisp beauty conceals fallen trees and washed-out trails, hillsides treacherous with mud and debris.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

The four white dwarf stars in this "nearby region" of space each have larger and brighter red dwarf companions that had previously concealed them.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Aguilar, who had a permit to carry a concealed firearm, drew his gun, Flores testified.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

In June 1981, before becoming president, he survived a bombing claimed by the Mujahedin-e Khalq group, when an explosive device concealed in a tape recorder detonated during a speech.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

The wine cellar was placed directly below the dining room, sending bottles upward as needed by concealed dumbwaiters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

But the poor judgement of men will begin something that seems good at the outset without noticing the poison concealed underneath, as I said earlier in connection with consumptive fevers.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

Meenakashi Bhandari, 48, was found guilty of concealing and transferring criminal property.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

The new observations revealed that all four nearby red dwarfs were concealing white dwarf companions.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 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

Halliday slid the bookshelf back into place, concealing the button once again.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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