hide

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈhīd

hid ˈhid

; hidden ˈhi-dᵊn

or hid; hiding ˈhī-diŋ

transitive verb

: to put out of sight : secrete

hide a key under the doormat

: to conceal for shelter or protection : shield

They hid him from the police.

: to keep secret

hide the truth

: to screen from or as if from view : obscure

clouds hid the sun

: to turn (the eyes or face) away in shame or anger

intransitive verb

: to remain out of sight

she hid under the bed

—often used with out

hiding out from the cops

: to seek protection or evade responsibility

hides behind his dark glasses, hoping to avoid being recognized

hider

ˈhī-dər

noun

hide

2 of 5

noun (1)

: the skin of an animal whether raw or prepared for use

—used especially of large heavy skins

buffalo killed for their hidesboots made of cow hide

: the life or physical well-being of a person

betrayed his friend to save his own hide

hide

3 of 5

verb (2)

hided; hiding

transitive verb

: to give a beating to : flog

hide

4 of 5

noun (2)

chiefly British

: blind sense 2

hunting ducks from a hide

hide

5 of 5

noun (3)

: any of various old English units of land area

especially : a unit of 120 acres

Phrases

hide or hair or hide nor hair

: a trace or visible sign of someone or something

a wife he hadn't seen hide or hair of in over 20 years

H. L. Davis

Choose the Right Synonym for hide

hide, conceal, screen, secrete, bury mean to withhold or withdraw from sight.

hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet

a house hidden in the woods

conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English hiden, from Old English hȳdan; akin to Greek keuthein to conceal

Noun (1) and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English hȳd; akin to Old High German hūt hide, Latin cutis skin, Greek kytos hollow vessel

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Old English hīgid, hīd

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1825, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of hide was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hide. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

hide

1 of 3 verb

ˈhīd

hid

ˈhid

; hidden

ˈhid-ᵊn

or hid; hiding

ˈhīd-iŋ

: to put or get out of sight : conceal

hide a treasure

hid in a closet

: to keep secret

hide one's grief

: to screen from view

a house hidden by trees

clouds hid the sun

: to seek protection or avoid responsibility

hider

ˈhīd-ər

noun

hide

2 of 3 noun

: the skin of an animal whether raw or dressed

hide

3 of 3 verb

hided; hiding

: to give a beating to

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hide

verb (1)

noun (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near hide

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition