hidden
Americanadjective
verb
verb
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hidden
First recorded in 1540–50, for the adjective
Explanation
Hidden things can't be seen — they're concealed in some way. A hidden video camera inside a teddy bear might secretly be keeping an eye on a new babysitter. People with hidden feelings don't let their sadness, anger, and joy show; and hidden clues in a treasure hunt can't be easily found. Hidden things can be obscured deliberately (like hidden eggs at an Easter egg hunt), or simply out of view or undetected by you. Hidden is the past participle of hide, from the Old English hydan, which means "to hide or conceal," but also "to bury a corpse."
Vocabulary lists containing hidden
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.
Rinderknecht then used his phone flashlight to walk up a trail to a small clearing at the top of the hill called Hidden Buddha.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026
Hidden in rivers and lakes, a massive crocodile with a distinctive hump on its snout likely posed one of the greatest dangers to these ancient hominins.
From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026
Lopez will have ample opportunity to enjoy the verdant surroundings in Hidden Hills, courtesy of her new home’s “lushly landscaped private grounds,” which include “spectacular orchards with multiple fruit trees,” as well as staggering views.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
“Without Wu-Tang, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ and ‘Hero’ would not have met with the success they did.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
We lock eyes and say at the same time, “The Department of Hidden Places.”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
