had hidden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had hidden" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action of hiding was completed before another action in the past. Example: "By the time the police arrived, she had hidden the evidence in a safe place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the "veiled protectorate" had hidden weaknesses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I had hidden from it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Suspecting something, her parents had hidden it.

The Guardian

I had hidden under cars for hours.

The New Yorker

"Unfortunately, my child had hidden in that direction.

The Guardian

I had hidden my real identity as an undergraduate.

The New York Times

The C.I.A. had hidden a technical flaw in the designs.

The New York Times

He had hidden a key inside those three envelopes.

The New Yorker

Some of its stylistic touches had hidden pragmatic roles.

The New York Times - Arts

The deals had hidden risks, and they went bad.

The New York Times

The C.I.A. had hidden a flaw in the designs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had hidden", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeline of events, indicating that the hiding occurred before another past action. For example, "She had hidden the letter before her brother arrived."

Common error

Avoid using "had hidden" when a simple past tense is sufficient. For instance, instead of "She had hidden the letter yesterday", use "She hid the letter yesterday" because "yesterday" already indicates a past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had hidden" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action of concealing or secreting something that was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "had hidden" precedes another past event, establishing a clear sequence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had hidden" is a versatile past perfect verb phrase used to indicate an action of concealing something that occurred before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its prevalent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. Its grammatical status is correct, and while its register is generally neutral, its formality can be influenced by the surrounding vocabulary. Remember to use "had hidden" when you want to emphasize that the act of hiding was completed before another past action, and consider alternatives like "had concealed" or "had covered up" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had concealed

Focuses on deliberately preventing something from being known or noticed, emphasizing a more active effort to keep something secret.

had kept secret

Focuses on maintaining the confidentiality of something, emphasizing the act of not revealing it.

had covered up

Implies hiding something, often a mistake or wrongdoing, to avoid embarrassment or punishment.

had masked

Suggests concealing something behind a false appearance, often to deceive.

had secreted

Indicates hiding something carefully and deliberately, often in a secret location.

had tucked away

Suggests hiding something in a safe or convenient place, often for later use.

had stashed

Implies hiding something quickly and informally, often for safekeeping.

had camouflaged

Suggests disguising something to blend in with its surroundings, making it difficult to detect.

had suppressed

Indicates forcibly preventing something from being expressed or known.

had buried

Implies hiding something deeply, both literally and figuratively, often to forget or avoid it.

FAQs

How is "had hidden" used in a sentence?

The phrase "had hidden" is used to indicate an action of hiding that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time the police arrived, she "had hidden" the evidence."

What are some alternatives to "had hidden"?

You can use alternatives like "had concealed", "had covered up", or "had masked" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "had hidden" instead of "hid"?

Use "had hidden" when you want to emphasize that the action of hiding was completed before another action in the past. Use "hid" for a simple past action without reference to another past action.

Is "had hidden" formal or informal language?

The phrase "had hidden" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.