it was hidden

USAGE SUMMARY

'it was hidden' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you want to communicate that something had been deliberately concealed or kept secret. For example: The ancient map was so valuable that it was hidden in a secret compartment in the wall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Its sale was all the more interesting because, for 40 years, it was hidden in a Paris bank vault.

The Guardian - Arts

"It was hidden from me.

The New York Times - Arts

It was hidden".

The Guardian - Books

It was hidden in plain sight".

The Guardian

Presumably it was hidden under "other".

The Guardian

"There was hate, but it was hidden.

The Washington Post

It was hidden in the rock section.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I assumed that it was hidden by the smoke.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was hiding".

The New Yorker

"It was hiding in plain sight".

The New Yorker

It's hidden in streets, it's hidden in communities, its hidden in rural communities.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was hidden" when you want to emphasize the action of concealing something or the state of being concealed.

Common error

Avoid using "it was hidden" repetitively in simple narratives. Vary your sentence structure and vocabulary by using synonyms like "concealed", "obscured", or rephrasing to provide more detail about how or why something was hidden.

Linguistic Context

It was hidden functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something or someone performed the action of hiding something. This means the subject of the sentence is receiving the action, rather than performing it. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

10%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was hidden" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey that something was concealed or not easily found. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and applicable across various contexts. The analysis reveals its frequent use in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the act of concealment and consider varying your language to avoid repetition. Related alternatives include "it was concealed" or "it remained unseen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it had been concealed

Replaces "was hidden" with "had been concealed", emphasizing a past action of concealing.

it remained unseen

Focuses on the state of being unseen rather than the action of hiding.

it was obscured

Suggests something was made unclear or indistinct, not necessarily physically hidden.

it was kept secret

Shifts the focus to the act of maintaining secrecy, rather than physical concealment.

it was shrouded

Implies a covering or concealing element, often metaphorical.

it was camouflaged

Indicates the use of camouflage to blend in and avoid detection.

it was masked

Suggests a covering or disguise to conceal the true nature of something.

it was under wraps

An idiomatic expression meaning something was kept secret or confidential.

it was not visible

Simply states that something could not be seen, without implying intentional hiding.

it was buried

Implies something was physically covered and concealed, often underground.

FAQs

How can I use "it was hidden" in a sentence?

You can use "it was hidden" to describe something that was deliberately concealed or not easily found. For example, "The treasure "it was hidden" in a secret compartment."

What can I say instead of "it was hidden"?

Alternatives include "it was concealed", "it was obscured", or "it remained unseen" depending on the context.

Is "it was hidden" the same as "it was hiding"?

No, "it was hidden" describes a state of being concealed, while "it was hiding" describes an action of actively concealing itself.

Which is correct, "it was hidden" or "it had been hidden"?

Both are correct, but "it had been hidden" emphasizes that the action of hiding occurred further in the past relative to another past event. Use "it was hidden" for simple past tense.