hide

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈhīd 

hid ˈhid  ; hidden ˈhi-dᵊn  or hid; hiding ˈhī-diŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to put out of sight : secrete

hide a key under the doormat

b

: to conceal for shelter or protection : shield

They hid him from the police.

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

intransitive verb

1

: to remain out of sight

she hid under the bed

—often used with out

hiding out from the cops

2

: to seek protection or evade responsibility

hides behind his dark glasses, hoping to avoid being recognized

hider

ˈhī-dər 

noun

hide

2 of 5

noun (1)

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

hide

3 of 5

verb (2)

hided; hiding

transitive verb

: to give a beating to : flog

hide

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noun (2)

chiefly British

: blind sense 2

hunting ducks from a hide

hide

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noun (3)

: 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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bury
• cache
• conceal
• ensconce
• secrete

Noun (1)

• fur
• leather
• pelt
• skin

Verb (2)

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• lace
• lambaste
• lambast
• lash
• lather
• lick
• maul
• mess (up)
• paddle
• pelt
• pommel
• pound
• pummel
• punch out
• rough (up)
• slate
• slog
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• thresh
• thump
• tromp
• wallop
• whale
• whip
• whop
• whap
• whup
• work over

Choose the Right Synonym for hide

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 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

Verb

The women were models of courage, hiding from fighters in the mountains of Greece after World War II triggered violent civil strife in that country. —Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

This discovery highlights the unique biodiversity hidden even in the deepest parts of our ocean and how the isolation of trench environments can breed unique adaptations. —Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

Pattern Placement Where others may be tempted to create as many pairs of shoes as possible from a single hide, Santoni cutters avoid any less-than-smooth sections. —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024

To catch such a fleeting scene, Bence spent 27 days watching from a hide. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English hiden, from Old English hȳdan; akin to Greek keuthein to conceal

Noun (1) and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English hȳd; akin to Old High German hūt hide, Latin cutis skin, Greek kytos hollow vessel

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Old English hīgid, hīd

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1825, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hide

• cover/hide a multitude of sins
• hide-and-go-seek
• hide-and-seek
• hide nor hair
• hide one's light under a bushel
• hide or hair
• save someone's bacon/hide/neck/skin
• save someone's hide
• tan someone's hide

Kids Definition

hide

1 of 3 verb

ˈhīd 

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

ˈhīd-ər

noun

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"