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Hideout Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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hideout

[หˆhaษชdaสŠt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

in a spy movie

A hideout is a place where someone, especially a criminal or a spy, can go to hide or to avoid being caught by the authorities.

Synonyms

refuge, retreat, sanctuary, shelter.

Examples of usage

  • The spy managed to find a secret hideout in the mountains.
  • The criminal gang used an abandoned warehouse as their hideout.
  • The police raided the hideout, but the criminals had already fled.
Context #2 | Noun

in a child's imagination

A hideout can also refer to a secret place where children play or hide, often imagining it to be a special or magical location.

Synonyms

den, fort, playhouse, retreat.

Examples of usage

  • The kids built a small hideout in the backyard using blankets and chairs.
  • The treehouse became their favorite hideout for secret meetings.
  • The children's hideout was a place of endless adventures and stories.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Pop Culture

  • In movies and books, characters often have hideouts, like Batmanโ€™s Batcave or Robin Hoodโ€™s forest hideout, symbolizing safety and a base for adventures.
  • The term often appears in detective novels, where characters use hideouts to avoid capture or set traps for adversaries.

Psychology

  • The need for a hideout can reflect a personโ€™s desire for privacy or safety, indicating emotional or psychological distress.
  • Having a 'hideaway' is seen as essential in stressful environments, helping individuals recharge away from external pressures.

History

  • During wars, many soldiers and resistance fighters used hideouts to plan strategies and evade enemy detection.
  • Historical figures, such as outlaws and dissidents, utilized hideouts to elude capture, highlighting their role in survival tactics.

Literature

  • In literature, hideouts often symbolize refuge or a place to plot rebellion, reflecting characters' inner struggles and conflicts.
  • Classics like 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' depict hideouts as places of freedom and adventure for young characters seeking escapism.

Origin of 'hideout'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from combining 'hide,' which means to conceal something, and 'out,' implying a place away from view.
  • The use of 'hideout' started around the late 19th century to describe places where people would go to escape or stay unnoticed.

The word 'hideout' originated in the early 19th century, combining 'hide' (to put or keep out of sight) and 'out' (outside). It initially referred to a place of concealment or refuge, often used by criminals. Over time, the term expanded to include secret play areas for children. The concept of a hideout evokes ideas of mystery, secrecy, and safety from pursuers or dangers.

See also: hidden, hideaway, hideous, hiding.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,051 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.