Word
conceal
Phoneticscon·ceal, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈsiɫ/
UK/kənsˈiːl/
Definition
v. to hide something so that other people cannot see it or find it. You use this when you want to keep a secret or keep an object out of sight.
v. to prevent something from being seen or discovered; to withhold information or hide an object from view. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“She tried to conceal the gift behind her back.”
“The spy used a hollow book to conceal the stolen documents during the border crossing.”
“The defendant was accused of attempting to conceal evidence by deleting several incriminating emails shortly before the investigation began.”
Examples
simple
“She tried to conceal the gift behind her back.”
contextual
“The spy used a hollow book to conceal the stolen documents during the border crossing.”
complex
“The defendant was accused of attempting to conceal evidence by deleting several incriminating emails shortly before the investigation began.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “conceal” in context.
Verb
01. attempt to conceal
“The politician made a desperate attempt to conceal his involvement in the scandal.”
verb + infinitive
02. conceal a weapon
“The suspect was arrested for trying to conceal a weapon under his heavy winter coat.”
verb + noun
03. conceal the truth from
“She felt guilty for trying to conceal the truth from her parents for so long.”
verb + noun + prep
Noun
04. effort to conceal
“Despite his effort to conceal his disappointment, his face gave everything away.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
05. barely conceal
“He spoke with a polite tone that could barely conceal his growing irritation.”
adv + verb
06. carefully conceal
“The entrance to the secret bunker was carefully concealed by thick layers of ivy.”
adv + verb
07. deliberately conceal
“The company was accused of deliberately concealing vital information about the drug's side effects.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is often used in formal or legal contexts instead of 'hide'.
Real-World Examples
“But for those who need to opt out, such as to conceal secret phones, advice for iPhones, Androids and other devices is listed on the government website , external .” “The destruction of the tea was a criminal act, and participants had strong reasons to conceal their identities and avoid punishment by the British Crown.” Etymology
From Middle English concelen, from Old French conceler (“hide, disguise”), from Latin concelāre, infinitive of concelō (“carefully disguise”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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