conceal

verb

con·​ceal kən-ˈsēl 

concealed; concealing; conceals

transitive verb

1

: to prevent disclosure or recognition of

conceal the truth

She could barely conceal her anger.

2

: to place out of sight

concealed himself behind the door

The defendant is accused of attempting to conceal evidence.

concealable

kən-ˈsē-lə-bəl 

adjective

concealingly

kən-ˈsē-liŋ-lē 

adverb

concealment

kən-ˈsēl-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• bury
• cache
• ensconce
• hide
• secrete

Choose the Right Synonym for conceal

hide, conceal, screen, secrete, bury mean to withhold or withdraw from sight.

hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet

a house hidden in the woods

conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

Examples of conceal in a Sentence

The sunglasses conceal her eyes.

The controls are concealed behind a panel.

The defendant is accused of attempting to conceal evidence.

The editorial accused the government of concealing the truth.

She could barely conceal her anger.

Recent Examples on the Web

The alleged smuggler, a Mexican citizen, was arrested on suspicion of hiding the birds in nylon stockings concealed inside his boots. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025

She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by FBI agents last week, charged with obstruction of justice and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025

Farmers or middlemen also frequently adulterated milk, watering it down to stretch supplies—with impure water likely to introduce further pathogens—or adding toxic substances, like formaldehyde or chalk, meant to conceal spoilage or make milk appear whiter. — Made By History, Time, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English concelen, borrowed from Anglo-French conceler, borrowed from Latin concēlāre, from con- con- + cēlāre "to hide, keep secret," probably derivative of an unattested lengthened-grade noun formed from the Indo-European verb base *ḱel- "cover, conceal," whence Latin occulere "to hide from view, keep secret" (from *ob-cel-), Old Irish ceilid "(s/he) hides," Welsh celaf "(I) hide," Germanic *hel-a- "hide" (whence Old English, Old Saxon & Old High German helan "to hide, keep secret")

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for conceal

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• foveal
• genteel

Kids Definition

conceal

verb

con·​ceal kən-ˈsē(ə)l 

1

: to keep secret

conceal a fact

2

: to hide from sight

carry a concealed weapon

concealable

-ˈsē-lə-bəl 

adjective

concealer noun

Legal Definition

conceal

transitive verb

con·​ceal

1

: to prevent disclosure of or fail to disclose (as a provision in a contract) especially in violation of a duty to disclose

2

a

: to place out of sight

Note: A weapon need only be placed out of ordinary observation in order to be considered a concealed weapon.

b

: to prevent or hinder recognition, discovery, or recovery of

concealing stolen property

concealment noun