conceal

UK: /kənˈsiːl/ US: /kənˈsil/ ,(kən sēl′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•ceal /kənˈsil/   v. [~ + object]

1. to hide;
   cover or keep from sight:
   A high wall concealed the house.
2. to keep secret;
   avoid disclosing:
   to conceal one's true motives.

con•ceal•a•ble, adj. 
con•ceal•er, n. [countable]
con•ceal•ment, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•ceal  (kən sēl′), v.t. 

1. to hide;
   withdraw or remove from observation;
   cover or keep from sight:
   He concealed the gun under his coat.
2. to keep secret;
   to prevent or avoid disclosing or divulging:
   to conceal one's identity by using a false name.

• Latin concēlāre, equivalent. to con- con- + cēlāre to hide (akin to hull¹, Greek koleón scabbard (see coleoptera); compare occult)
• Anglo-French conceler
• Middle English conselen, concelen 1275–1325

con•ceal′a•ble, adj. 
con•ceal′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
con•ceal′ed•ly, adv. 
con•ceal′ed•ness, n. 
con•ceal′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See hide ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conceal / kənˈsiːl/ verb (transitive)

1. to keep from discovery; hide
2. to keep secret

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French conceler, from Latin concēlāre, from com- (intensive) + cēlāre to hide

conˈcealer noun

conˈcealment noun