in private

Idioms  

1. Not in public; secretly, confidentially. For example, The hearings will be conducted in private, or May I speak to you in private? [Late 1500s] For an antonym, see in public.

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Example Sentences

“Given that people in this study were donating in private, these types of experiments provide a conservative test of whether giving to other people can increase positive mood,” Whillans told the university.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 20, 2026

But as Hileman waited for that redemption window, a storm started brewing in private credit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026

And Israeli leaders, across the political aisle, expressed deep concerns over the deal in private, warning they would not be bound by an agreement to which they were not a party.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

Ritter notes that Anthropic recently raised $65 billion in private markets, so it can sustain its cash burn for some time before an offering.

From Barron's • Jun. 13, 2026

I waited for him to invite me behind the glass so we could talk in private, but he simply stood, waiting for me to continue.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

Related Words

• covert
• enigmatic
• reticent
• taciturn