secrete

1 of 2

verb (1)

se·​crete si-ˈkrēt How to pronounce secrete (audio)
secreted; secreting

transitive verb

: to form and give off (a secretion)

secrete

2 of 2

verb (2)

secreted; secreting

transitive verb

1
: to deposit or conceal in a hiding place
2
: to appropriate secretly : abstract

Did you know?

If you guessed that the secret to the origins of secrete is the word secret, you are correct. Secrete developed in the mid-18th century as an alteration of a now obsolete verb secret. That verb had the meaning now carried by secrete and derived from the familiar noun secret ("something kept hidden or unexplained"). The noun, in turn, traces back to the Latin secretus, the past participle of the verb secernere, meaning "to separate" or "to distinguish." Incidentally, there is an earlier and distinct verb secrete with the more scientific meaning "to form and give off (a secretion)." That secrete is a back-formation from secretion, another word that can be traced back to secernere.

Choose the Right Synonym for secrete

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 secrete in a Sentence

Verb (2) the police found the weapon secreted under the driver's seat of the getaway car
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.
Verb
The Russian woman accused of sneaking onto a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris has been charged with knowingly and intentionally secreting herself aboard an airplane. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024 Determining how often to wash your hair means finding a balance between preventing a buildup of sebum (an oily substance secreted by the scalp) and stripping away natural oils your hair needs.4 No hair-washing schedule works for everyone. Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024 Today’s Connections groups are... Yellow group — telling of events Green group — secreted by trees Blue group — things on sticks Purple group — black or red What Are Today’s Connections Answers? Spoiler alert! Kris Holt, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 The grand jury accused Michael Whiting of misuse of public monies, theft, conflict of interest, harassment, sending a threatening letter, and stealing, destroying, altering or secreting public records. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for secrete 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

back-formation from secretion

Verb (2)

alteration of obsolete secret, from secret entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1693, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of secrete was in 1693

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near secrete

Cite this Entry

“Secrete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secrete. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

secrete

1 of 2 verb
se·​crete si-ˈkrēt How to pronounce secrete (audio)
secreted; secreting
: to produce and give off a secretion
glands that secrete saliva

secrete

2 of 2 verb
se·​crete si-ˈkrēt How to pronounce secrete (audio)
ˈsē-krət
secreted; secreting
: to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Medical Definition

secrete

transitive verb
se·​crete si-ˈkrēt How to pronounce secrete (audio)
secreted; secreting
: to form and give off (a secretion)
cells secreting mucus

More from Merriam-Webster on secrete

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!