ENGLISH
REFERENCE

secrets

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈsikɹəts// UK //sˈiːkɹəts// se·crets

n. pieces of information that you do not tell other people. You keep them hidden to protect yourself or someone else.

n. information kept hidden from others or known only by a few people. Often used in the plural to refer to a collection of private facts or mysteries.


SIMPLE

She promised to keep my secrets from everyone else.

CONTEXTUAL

The two friends shared many secrets during their long walks in the park.

COMPLEX

The investigative journalist spent years uncovering the dark secrets hidden within the corporation's private archives.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'keep', 'share', or 'tell'.

Pitfall

He told me a secret about his life.He told me a secret.While 'about' is grammatically possible, 'secret' is usually followed by 'of' when describing the contents, or used alone if the context is clear.

© 2026 English Reference