conceal

verb

con·​ceal kən-ˈsēl How to pronounce conceal (audio)
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 adjective
concealingly adverb
concealment noun
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This media unit can conceal a wealth of entertainment gadgets, from video game setups to rows of records, and the giant rat's nest of cords that come with them. Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024 The chic skirt is designed with a midi-length and a high waistband to gently conceal the mid-section. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024 Both sides agreed to sign nondisclosure agreements concealing everything about the incident. Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024 The bear was less than 75 feet from me in open timber, not hidden by anything except his own leaf pile, and that fell far short of concealing him. Ben East, Outdoor Life, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conceal 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of conceal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near conceal

Cite this Entry

“Conceal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conceal. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

conceal

verb
con·​ceal kən-ˈsē(ə)l How to pronounce conceal (audio)
1
: to keep secret
conceal a fact
2
: to hide from sight
carry a concealed weapon
concealable 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

More from Merriam-Webster on conceal

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