verb

hide

hyd

verb

To put something, or oneself, somewhere out of sight or hard to find.

"She hid the presents in the closet before the party."

"He hid behind the curtain when he heard footsteps."

noun

The skin of an animal, especially when used for leather.

"The cowboy boots were made from tough cowhide."

(mainly British) A covered shelter used for watching wildlife without disturbing it.

"We spent the morning in a bird hide, watching herons on the lake."

How to Use Hide

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo conceal something or yourself — or, as a noun, an animal's skin, or a shelter for watching wildlife.

UK vs US

The wildlife-watching "hide" is chiefly British; American English generally says "blind" instead.

Common pairings

hide something from someone go into hiding a bird hide

Word Forms

hid past tense, hidden past tense, hided past tense, hides plural, hides plural, hides singular, hides singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “hide” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

We spent the morning in a bird _____, watching herons on the lake.

Etymology

From Old English "hydan" ("to hide, conceal, preserve"), ultimately from a root meaning "to cover" — the same root that gives us "hoard," "hut," and "sky."

Rhymes for hide

ide tide ride wide side bide aide FIDE abide slide bride guide

See all rhymes for hide →