bury

11 synonyms and 3 antonyms for bury, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

inter hide forget

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

conceal suppress swallow sink

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

entomb cover up inhume immerse

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral.

“The family gathered at the churchyard to bury their beloved aunt.”

inter entomb conceal suppress hide cover up inhume swallow immerse forget sink

Opposites

exhume

2. verb

To put something in the ground and cover it over.

“We planted the bulbs by burying them deep in the soil.”

Opposites

disinter

3. verb

To hide or suppress a feeling, memory, or fact.

“She buried her disappointment and smiled politely at the winner.”

Opposites

expose

How to use bury

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

bury the hatchet bury a body bury your feelings bury the truth

Etymology

From Old English "byrgan," itself from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to keep safe" — ultimately connected to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to protect."

Full origin of bury →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bury” mean?

The word “bury” means to place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral. In plain terms, to put something in the ground and cover it, or figuratively to hide, suppress, or end something.

How do you pronounce “bury”?

“Bury” is pronounced BEH-ree (/ˈbɛɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “bury” in a sentence?

Here is “bury” used in a sentence: “He tried to bury the memory of that difficult year.”

What part of speech is “bury”?

“Bury” is a verb.

Where does the word “bury” come from?

The word “bury” comes from Old English. From Old English "byrgan," itself from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to keep safe" — ultimately connected to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to protect.".

Is “bury” a common word?

“Bury” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “bury” have?

“Bury” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral.

What is the difference between 'bury' and 'berry'?

Bury and berry sound alike in many accents but are unrelated words. Bury is a verb meaning to place something in the ground or to hide it, while berry is a noun for a small fruit.

What is the difference between 'bury' and 'hide'?

Both can mean to keep something out of sight, but bury suggests covering something over completely, often deep down, whereas hide simply means placing it where it cannot be seen. Figuratively, to bury a feeling implies suppressing it firmly, while to hide a feeling can be more temporary.

What is the past tense of 'bury'?

The past tense and past participle of bury are both buried. The y changes to i before the -ed ending, following the usual spelling rule for verbs ending in a consonant plus y.

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forget hide inter sink expose swallow suppress conceal entomb exhume immerse disinter

Nearby words

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