were hiding

USAGE SUMMARY

"were hiding" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in the past tense when referring to something a person or group of people did. Example: We looked all over the house for our lost keys but we soon realized that they were hiding in the couch cushions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were hiding out".

The New York Times

"Most were hiding.

The New York Times

They were hiding.

The Guardian

They were hiding from me.

The Guardian

The politicians were hiding in their homes.

The New Yorker

The spiders were hiding in plain view.

The New Yorker

"They were hiding among the trees".

The New York Times

They were hiding under their desks.

The New York Times

As usual, backup officers were hiding nearby.

The New York Times

Three other women were hiding with them.

The Guardian

The fighters were hiding among the refugees.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were hiding" to describe an action in the past where a group of people or things intentionally sought to avoid being seen or discovered. Ensure the subject is plural or a collective noun.

Common error

Avoid using "were hiding" with a singular subject. The correct form for a singular subject in the past continuous tense is "was hiding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were hiding" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an ongoing action of concealing oneself or something else at a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a common and grammatically sound construction. The examples show how it's used to describe actions in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were hiding" is a verb phrase used in the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing action of concealment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It appears most frequently in news and media, with a neutral register, and is used to convey actions of evasion, protection, or strategic positioning. Remember to use "were hiding" with plural subjects and consider alternative phrasings like "were concealing themselves" or "were lying low" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were concealing themselves

Emphasizes the act of making oneself not visible.

were taking cover

Highlights seeking shelter for protection.

were lying low

Focuses on avoiding attention or detection.

were keeping out of sight

Stresses remaining unseen.

were secreted away

Suggests being hidden carefully and deliberately.

were in hiding

A slightly more formal way to indicate a state of being hidden.

were under cover

Emphasizes the use of something to conceal oneself.

were evading detection

Highlights avoiding being found or noticed.

were going underground

Suggests disappearing from public view, often due to illegal activities.

were playing possum

Implies pretending to be dead or inactive to avoid danger or detection.

FAQs

How can I use "were hiding" in a sentence?

Use "were hiding" to describe a past action where multiple entities sought concealment. For example, "The children "were hiding in the closet" during the game of hide-and-seek".

What are some alternatives to "were hiding"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "were concealing themselves", "were taking cover", or "were lying low".

Is it correct to say "was hiding" instead of "were hiding"?

"Was hiding" is used with singular subjects, while "were hiding" is used with plural subjects. For example, "He was hiding" is correct for a single person, but "They "were hiding"" is correct for multiple people.

What is the difference between "were hiding" and "had been hiding"?

"Were hiding" indicates a continuous action in the past. "Had been hiding" indicates an action that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. For instance, "They "were hiding" when I saw them" versus "They had been hiding for hours before I found them".