1
2
: to keep secret
hide the truth
3
: to screen from or as if from view : obscure
clouds hid the sun
4
: to turn (the eyes or face) away in shame or anger
1
: to remain out of sight
she hid under the bed
—often used with outhiding out from the cops
2
: to seek protection or evade responsibility
hides behind his dark glasses, hoping to avoid being recognized
1
: the skin of an animal whether raw or prepared for use
—used especially of large heavy skins
buffalo killed for their hides
boots made of cow hide
2
: the life or physical well-being of a person
betrayed his friend to save his own hide
chiefly British
: blind sense 2
hunting ducks from a hide
: any of various old English units of land area
especially
: a unit of 120 acres
Phrases
hide or hair
or hide nor hair
: a trace or visible sign of someone or something
a wife he hadn't seen hide or hair of in over 20 years—
H. L. Davis
H. L. DavisExamples of hide in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the thief had hidden the stolen jewelry under the floorboards
he tried to hide his criminal past
she hid the cat's litter box behind a screen
He hid in the closet during the game of hide-and-seek.
Noun (1)
seal hides are used by Eskimos to make footwear, boats, shelters, bags, and clothing
boots made of shiny alligator hide
Verb (2)
the grizzled quartermaster threatened to hide any soldier caught stealing provisions
threatened to hide the boys with his cane if he ever found them on his property again
Recent Examples on the Web
Paulina Wierzbicka, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The first iteration of Somni opened in 2018 inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a restaurant hidden inside of José Andrés’s Bazaar, but closed in 2020 as a pandemic casualty.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The Alter Ego collection, for example, features the checkerboard technique that reimagines the small and irregular scraps of leather that are left over after specific Coach bag patterns are cut from Coach leather hides.
—Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hide
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.
Verb
Transparency is another issue: Pricing for procedures varies wildly and is often hidden until the bill arrives.
—Paulina Wierzbicka, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The first iteration of Somni opened in 2018 inside the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, a restaurant hidden inside of José Andrés’s Bazaar, but closed in 2020 as a pandemic casualty.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 June 2025
Noun
The property is hoping to attract a range of photographers, both novice and seasoned, to the property due to its hide.
—Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The Alter Ego collection, for example, features the checkerboard technique that reimagines the small and irregular scraps of leather that are left over after specific Coach bag patterns are cut from Coach leather hides.
—Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hide
Cite this Entry
“Hide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hide. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hide
1 of 3 verb
hid
ˈhid
; hidden
ˈhid-ᵊn
or hid; hiding
ˈhīd-iŋ
1
: to put or get out of sight : conceal
hide a treasure
hid in a closet
2
: to keep secret
hide one's grief
3
: to screen from view
a house hidden by trees
clouds hid the sun
4
: to seek protection or avoid responsibility
hider
noun
ˈhīd-ər
hide
2 of 3 noun
: the skin of an animal whether raw or dressed
hide
3 of 3 verb
hided; hiding
: to give a beating to
Etymology
Verb
Old English hȳdan "to get out of sight"
Noun
Old English hȳd "skin of an animal"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share