# hide out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hide-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to stay in a secret place so that people, like the police or enemies, cannot find you.

For teachers: to remain in a concealed location to avoid detection, capture, or unwanted attention; often implies a temporary state of evasion.

## Examples

- The bank robbers decided to hide out in an old cabin.
- After the scandal broke, the celebrity went to the mountains to hide out until the media interest died down.
- The resistance fighters were forced to hide out in the dense forest for weeks while enemy patrols combed the nearby villages.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They are hiding out them in the cellar." but "They are hiding out in the cellar." — this phrasal verb is intransitive; you cannot 'hide out' someone else, you can only 'hide' them.

## Usage notes

- often used with the preposition 'in' or 'at' to specify the location of concealment.
- Teaching tip: contrast with the simple verb 'hide'; 'hide out' suggests a longer duration and a specific intent to evade a search party or authority.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.