concealed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "concealed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that is hidden or kept out of sight. Example: "The treasure was concealed beneath the old oak tree, waiting to be discovered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 2013 and 2014 eight states passed laws allowing guns on school grounds, Illinois became the 50th state to allow carrying concealed weapons and several states passed laws either making concealed-carry permits confidential or recognising concealed-carry permits from other states.

The Economist

There may well be a man or two concealed somewhere in the vast expanse of the Royal Albert Hall, but if there are indeed any members of the weaker sex present, they had better not hear the urgent tinkle of nature's call.

The Guardian

Dressed in her nightgown her face is tranquil; a few beads of sweat gathering at her temples the only sign of a concealed distress.

The Guardian

Most official accounts of Slahi's torture have concealed or glossed over Zuley's name.

The Guardian

Greenpeace has suggested Soon also improperly concealed his funding sources for a recent article, in violation of the journal's conflict of interest guidelines.

The Guardian

Much of it remains concealed by official secrecy, like the bulk of the landmark US Senate report on Bush-era CIA abuse, or the stories of the 122 Guantánamo detainees Barack Obama continues to hold at the wartime prison he has vowed without success to close.

The Guardian

Related: The Guardian view on the black spider memos: Prince Charles has sacrificed political neutrality | Editorial Lawyers had been hired by Cameron's ministers and were due to go to a freedom of information tribunal later this year to argue in favour of keeping this batch of letters concealed.

The Guardian

Surveillance Footage from his reconnaissance in New York was discovered concealed within a video of Bruce Willis' movie Die Hard with a Vengeance which is about terrorist attacks on New York.

The Guardian

Successfully concealed beneath all the more lauded qualities was the absolute certainty of a very considerable ego.

The Guardian - Sport

It seems that the voyeurs at the window and the bowler-hatted men, one armed with a club and another with a net, who stand concealed in the room must have been there when the woman was killed.

The Guardian - Arts

Marines and Army infantrymen, who took back Fallujah in brutal house-to-house fighting during Kyle's deployment in 2004, are relegated to whispers and gawks when "The Legend" scores another kill from a concealed position.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "concealed", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being hidden and from whom or what it is being hidden from.

Common error

Avoid using adjectives that simply repeat the idea of hiding, such as "secretly concealed". Choose one word to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "concealed" is as a past participle or adjective, describing something that has been hidden or kept from view. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples where "concealed" modifies nouns or acts as part of a verb phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "concealed" functions as a past participle or adjective, indicating something hidden. Ludwig highlights that it's grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in "News & Media". While synonyms like "hidden" and "covered up" exist, "concealed" suggests a more deliberate act of hiding. A key writing tip is to avoid redundancy by not using adjectives that repeat the idea of hiding. Understanding these nuances will help ensure accurate and impactful use of "concealed" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hidden

Direct synonym, emphasizing the state of being out of sight.

covered up

Implies an intentional action to hide something.

masked

Suggests something is disguised or its true nature is not apparent.

camouflaged

Indicates something blended in with its surroundings to avoid detection.

obscured

Means something is not easily seen or understood.

kept secret

Emphasizes the confidentiality aspect.

under wraps

Suggests something is being kept secret until a later time.

out of sight

A general term for not being visible.

not visible

A simple statement of not being able to be seen.

secreted

Implies carefully hiding something away.

FAQs

How can I use "concealed" in a sentence?

You can use "concealed" to describe something that is hidden or kept out of sight. For example, "The evidence was "hidden" in a secret compartment" or "Her disappointment was carefully "covered up"".

What are some alternatives to "concealed"?

Alternatives to "concealed" include "hidden", "covered up", "masked", and "camouflaged". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "hidden" or "concealed"?

"Hidden" and "concealed" are often interchangeable, but "concealed" suggests a more deliberate or careful act of hiding. Use "hidden" for simple cases of being out of sight and "concealed" when the act of hiding is more intentional.

What's the difference between "concealed" and "disguised"?

"Concealed" means to keep something out of sight, while "disguised" means to alter the appearance to prevent recognition. For example, a weapon might be "concealed" under clothing, while a spy might be "disguised" as a tourist.