hidden

[ hid-n ]

adjective

1. concealed; obscure; covert:

   hidden meaning; hidden hostility.

   Synonyms: occult, veiled, secret

verb

1. past participle of hide ¹.

hidden

/ ˈhɪdən /

verb

1. See hide
   a past participle of hide 1

adjective

1. concealed or obscured

   a hidden meaning

   a hidden cave

Derived Forms

• ˈhiddenness, noun
• ˈhiddenly, adverb

Other Words From

• hidden·ly adverb
• hidden·ness noun
• half-hidden adjective
• un·hidden adjective
• well-hidden adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hidden¹

First recorded in 1540–50, for the adjective

Example Sentences

The molecules shake, and this boost in molecular movement manifests itself as heat — a seemingly hidden heat called latent heat.

From Quanta Magazine

This is to prevent one company from gaining an advantage over the other due to hidden contacts with government officials, whether accidental or corrupt.

From Quartz

BERT is what is known as a “masked language model,” because its training consists of learning how to correctly guess what a hidden word in a text is.

From Fortune

However, the parity of outcomes must mean that some hidden factor gives southpaws a substantial advantage over right-handed pitchers that offsets that skill gap.

From FiveThirtyEight

Choose end tables and coffee tables with drawers or hidden storage.

From Washington Blade

Well, there are plenty of nerdy zingers hidden in those thousands of pages.

From The Daily Beast

That same day a 13-year-old girl was arrested with explosives hidden under her hijab after walking into a medical clinic.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile advocacy groups like GLAAD help rid our larger culture of hidden biases and bigotry.

From The Daily Beast

One could argue that this was never exactly hidden from her readers.

From The Daily Beast

Wonderland posted videos taken with a hidden camera—in a cross necklace, or inside a watch or glasses—of him hitting on women.

From The Daily Beast

"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.

From Project Gutenberg

A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.

From Project Gutenberg

So it commands the other sciences in all the wonderful and hidden things of nature and art (pp. 510-511).

From Project Gutenberg

He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be conversant in the secrets of parables.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter went immediately to look for his wife, and found her hidden in an attic, hanging to a beam.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buried
• clandestine
• concealed
• covered
• covert
• dark
• invisible
• latent
• mysterious
• obscure
• private
• secluded
• underground
• undisclosed
• unknown