conceal

[ kuhn-seel ]
See synonyms for conceal on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to hide; withdraw or remove from observation; cover or keep from sight: He concealed the gun under his coat.

  2. to keep secret; to prevent or avoid disclosing or divulging: to conceal one's identity by using a false name.

Origin of conceal

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English conselen, concelen, from Anglo-French conceler from Latin concēlāre, from con- con- + cēlāre “to hide” (see also hull1 )

synonym study For conceal

1. See hide1.

Other words from conceal

  • con·ceal·a·ble, adjective
  • con·ceal·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • con·ceal·ed·ly, adverb
  • con·ceal·ed·ness, noun
  • con·ceal·er, noun
  • half-con·cealed, adjective
  • half-con·ceal·ing, adjective
  • pre·con·ceal, verb (used with object)
  • re·con·ceal, verb (used with object)
  • sem·i·con·cealed, adjective
  • sub·con·cealed, adjective
  • un·con·cealed, adjective
  • un·con·ceal·ing, adjective
  • un·con·ceal·ing·ly, adverb
  • well-con·cealed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use conceal in a sentence

  • If an inventor intentionally conceals facts or misleads the public by an erroneous description, his patent is void.

  • For his sake General Maxgregor does outrage to his feelings and conceals his passionate love for the queen.

    The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. White
  • It sometimes happens that a woman conceals from a man the love she feels for him, while he only feigns a passion he does not feel.

  • He inhabits mud and sand banks, and also conceals himself under tree roots, stones and rocks.

    The Teesdale Angler | R Lakeland
  • She is married, and a trailing lace veil half conceals her happy smiles.

    Private Peat | Harold R. Peat

British Dictionary definitions for conceal

conceal

/ (kənˈsiːl) /


verb(tr)
  1. to keep from discovery; hide

  2. to keep secret

Origin of conceal

1
C14: from Old French conceler, from Latin concēlāre, from com- (intensive) + cēlāre to hide

Derived forms of conceal

  • concealable, adjective
  • concealer, noun
  • concealment, noun

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