Conceal: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ
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conceal

 

[ kษ™nหˆsiหl ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

keep from sight

To hide or keep something secret, often to avoid detection or attention. It can involve physically covering something or keeping it out of sight. Concealment can also refer to hiding one's feelings or emotions from others.

Synonyms

cover, hide, mask.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
conceal

Used when you want to make sure that something is completely out of sight or knowledge, often with a purpose of keeping it secret.

  • He tried to conceal his true feelings from his friends.
  • The treasure was concealed in a hidden cave.
hide

Commonly used when you want to put someone or something out of sight to prevent it from being found. Generally has no negative connotation.

  • She hid the key under the mat.
  • He was hiding from his angry boss.
cover

Appropriate when you need to place something over another thing to protect or hide it. Can be used in both physical and abstract senses.

  • She covered the pot with a lid.
  • He covered his mistake with a lie.
mask

Used when you want to disguise or obscure something, often to mislead or conceal the true nature of something. Can have a slightly negative connotation.

  • He masked his intentions with a smile.
  • She applied makeup to mask her blemishes.

Examples of usage

  • He tried to conceal the surprise on his face.
  • She concealed the letter in a secret compartment.
  • The spy concealed his true identity.
Context #2 | Noun

something that hides or protects

A means of hiding or protecting something. This could be a physical object like a camouflage net or a metaphorical concept like a false identity. Conceal can also refer to the act of hiding one's true intentions or emotions.

Synonyms

cover, disguise, veil.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
conceal

Use when you want to hide something from being seen or discovered.

  • He tried to conceal the surprise gift from her
  • She couldn't conceal her excitement
cover

When you want to put something over another object so it cannot be seen.

  • She covered the cake with a cloth
  • The clouds covered the sun
disguise

Often used when you want to change the appearance of something to make it not recognizable. This can have a negative connotation.

  • He disguised himself as a famous actor
  • The thief disguised his voice during the call
veil

Usually used when there is a metaphorical or literal cover that creates mystery or partial concealment, often implying a delicate or elegant manner.

  • Her intentions were veiled in mystery
  • She wore a veil to the wedding

Examples of usage

  • The bushes provided a good conceal for the wildlife photographer.
  • The mask served as a conceal for his true feelings.
  • The encryption was a clever conceal for the sensitive information.

Translations

Translations of the word "conceal" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น esconder

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค›เคฟเคชเคพเคจเคพ (Chhipana)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช verbergen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menyembunyikan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟั€ะธั…ะพะฒัƒะฒะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ukrywaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้š ใ™ (Kakusu)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท cacher

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ocultar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gizlemek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ˆจ๊ธฐ๋‹ค (sumgida)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅุฎูุงุก (ikhfa')

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ skrรฝt

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ skryลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้š่— (Yวncรกng)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ skriti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ fela

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐัั‹ั€ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒ›แƒแƒšแƒ•แƒ (damalva)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gizlษ™tmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ocultar

Etymology

The word 'conceal' originated from the Old French word 'conceeler' which meant 'to hide, conceal, dissimulate'. It has been used in English since the 14th century. The concept of concealment has been prevalent throughout history, with people using various methods to hide things from sight or knowledge.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,439 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.