Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense conceals, present participle concealing, past tense, past participle concealed
1. verb
If you conceal something, you cover it or hide it carefully.
Frances decided to conceal the machine behind a hinged panel. [VERB noun]
Five people were arrested for carrying concealed weapons. [VERB-ed]
2. verb
If you conceal a piece of information or a feeling, you do not let other people know about it.
Robert could not conceal his relief. [VERB noun]
She knew at once that he was concealing something from her. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: keep secret, hide, disguise, mask More Synonyms of conceal
3. verb
If something conceals something else, it covers it and prevents it from being seen.
...a pair of carved Indian doors which conceal a built-in cupboard. [VERB noun]
The hat concealed her hair. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of conceal
conceal in British English
(kənˈsiːl)
verb(transitive)
1.
to keep from discovery; hide
2.
to keep secret
Derived forms
concealable (conˈcealable)
adjective
concealer (conˈcealer)
noun
concealment (conˈcealment)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French conceler, from Latin concēlāre, from com- (intensive) + cēlāre to hide
conceal in American English
(kənˈsil)
verb transitive
1.
to put out of sight; hide
2.
to keep from another's knowledge; keep secret
SIMILAR WORDS: hide
Derived forms
concealable (conˈcealable)
adjective
concealer (conˈcealer)
noun
concealment (conˈcealment)
noun
Word origin
ME concelen < OFr conceler < L concelare, to hide < com-, together + celare, to hide < IE base *el, to hide, conceal > hall, hull2, Gr kalyptein
Examples of 'conceal' in a sentence
conceal
Managers lie all the time to conceal information from opponents or to enjoy the power.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is not only fine art that conceals secrets.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Who is concealing special love feelings for you?
The Sun (2012)
Instead of concealing your secret ambitions it is time to show what you can do.
The Sun (2009)
Who is concealing deep feelings for you?
The Sun (2014)
But for more than a decade that industry has concealed a secret.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And no wonder he went to such lengths to conceal his secret.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Instead of concealing your feelings you talk about them but be ready for a partner to do the same.
The Sun (2009)
And there wasn't a cunningly concealed cupboard to be seen.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Indeed, he made valiant efforts to conceal this information.
Christianity Today (2000)
The meeting ended with the correct formalities, and barely concealed mutual mistrust.
Ben Macintyre JOSIAH THE GREAT: The True Story of The Man Who Would Be King (2004)
She is doing her bit - with barely concealed pleasure.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Liberal commentators in Washington could barely conceal their mirth.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
No matter how carefully concealed, picking a crown prince is an overt act which the whole organization very rapidly perceives.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
Much of her vast collection is kept in concealed cupboards in her apartment, the rest is stored in her offices.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All are so media savvy and willing to give information rather than conceal it... it somewhat puts their dads to shame.
The Sun (2014)
The van had a hollow bottom, the kitchen had been built over a cellar and the stairs concealed a broom cupboard.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
The manipulation of commercial income is understood to have been carefully concealed and might not have been caught without a tip-off from a whistleblower.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is a fairly potent indicator of the show's future direction - otherwise so carefully concealed.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The laudable, though illusory, cloak of improvement in the quality of patient care barely conceals a less acceptable political agenda.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
ACTRESS Amber Heard carefully conceals another pair of puppies in the wake of her dog smuggling disaster.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
conceal
British English: conceal VERB
If you conceal something, you cover it or hide it carefully.
She decided to conceal the machine behind a hinged panel.
American English: conceal
Brazilian Portuguese: omitir
Chinese: 掩盖
European Spanish: ocultar
French: dissimuler
German: verbergen
Italian: nascondere
Japanese: 隠す
Korean: 숨기다
European Portuguese: ocultar
Latin American Spanish: ocultar
Chinese translation of 'conceal'
conceal
(kənˈsiːl)
vt
[object]隐(隱)藏 (yǐncáng)
[secret, emotion]掩饰(飾) (yǎnshì)
to conceal sth from sb对(對)某人隐(隱)瞒(瞞)某事 (duì mǒurén yǐnmán mǒushì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to cover and hide
The device, concealed in a dustbin, was defused by police.
Synonyms
hide
The compound was hidden by trees and shrubs.
bury
She buried it under some leaves.
stash (informal)
He had stashed money away in secret offshore bank accounts.
secrete
She secreted the gun in the kitchen cabinet.
cover
the black patch which covered his left eye
screen
The road is screened by a block of flats.
disguise
obscure
The building is almost completely obscured by a huge banner.
camouflage
This is another clever attempt to camouflage reality.
Opposites
show
,
reveal
,
display
,
expose
,
unveil
,
uncover
,
lay bare
2 (verb)
Definition
to keep secret
Robert could not conceal his relief.
Synonyms
keep secret
hide
I have absolutely nothing to hide, I have done nothing wrong.
disguise
She made no attempt to disguise her contempt.
mask
A thick grey cloud masked the sun.
suppress
At no time did they try to persuade me to suppress the information.
veil
Her hair swept across her face, as if to veil it.
dissemble
draw a veil over
keep dark
keep under your hat
Opposites
show
,
reveal
,
display
,
expose
,
disclose
,
divulge
,
unmask
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bury
Definition
to cover (something) from sight
She buried it under some leaves.
Synonyms
hide,
cover,
conceal,
stash (informal),
secrete,
cache,
stow away
in the sense of camouflage
Definition
to conceal by camouflage
This is another clever attempt to camouflage reality.