hiding

¹ American  

[hahy-ding] / ˈhaɪ dɪŋ /

noun

1. act of concealing; concealment.

   to remain in hiding.

2. a secret refuge or means of concealment.

---

hiding ² American  

[hahy-ding] / ˈhaɪ dɪŋ /

noun

Informal.

1. a severe beating; flogging; thrashing.

---

hiding ¹ British  

/ ˈhaɪdɪŋ /

noun

1. the state of concealment (esp in the phrase in hiding )

2. a place of concealment

---

hiding ² British  

/ ˈhaɪdɪŋ /

noun

1. informal a flogging; beating

2. to be bound to fail; to face impossible odds

---

Etymology

Origin of hiding¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; hide ¹ + -ing ¹

Origin of hiding²

First recorded in 1800–10; hide ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

"Three ICE agents were literally hiding, waiting for me," he explains.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

In her experience, many people pack their tents in hiding places and lock their cars early in the morning to go somewhere for breakfast or to a job.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Drake’s always been a bully, throwing stones from his frigid fortress of solitude and hiding his hand in a diamond-encrusted glove he won at auction.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

In 2011 the U.S. discovered that Osama bin Laden was hiding in a fortified compound less than a mile from Pakistan’s premier military academy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Walking over to where my traps were, I lifted them from their hiding places and tripped the triggers with a stick.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls