Hide Meaning
Hide Definition & Usage
To put or keep something in a place where it cannot be seen or found.
Examples
- "She hid the gift in the closet before his birthday."
- "The children quickly hid behind the bushes when they heard footsteps."
- "He hid the letter under the floorboards to keep it safe."
- "She tried to hide her disappointment, but her face betrayed her."
- "I always hide my keys in the same place, so I don’t lose them."
To intentionally keep one's feelings, intentions, or plans secret or concealed from others.
Examples
- "She tried to hide her excitement when she received the surprise invitation."
- "He hid his anger behind a forced smile during the meeting."
- "They were hiding the truth from their parents to avoid upsetting them."
- "I could tell he was hiding something, but I didn’t press him."
- "She hides her real feelings to avoid conflict."
To keep someone or something safe by preventing harm or exposure.
Examples
- "The mother bird hides her chicks in the bushes to protect them from predators."
- "During the storm, the family hid in the basement until the danger passed."
- "The soldier hid behind a rock to avoid being seen by the enemy."
- "The secret service agents hid the president in a secure location."
- "The law firm hid evidence that could have endangered their client."
Cultural Context
'Hide' is often associated with both physical and emotional concealment. It is a word used across various contexts, from playing hide-and-seek as children to the more serious act of hiding secrets or intentions. The phrase 'hide and seek' is a well-known children's game that involves one person hiding while others search for them, embodying the concept of concealment in a playful form.
The Secret of the Hidden Garden
Story
The Secret of the Hidden Garden
In the small town of Greenfield, there was a legend about a hidden garden, tucked away behind an old stone wall that nobody seemed to remember. Clara, a young girl with an insatiable curiosity, had heard the stories all her life. Everyone in town claimed it was a secret, a place no one could find unless they were meant to. The older residents often spoke of it in whispers, as if the garden itself was a thing to be hidden away, its secrets lost to time. Clara wasn’t one to accept such vague tales, so one afternoon, she decided to investigate. With nothing more than a map her grandmother had once given her, Clara set out for the garden. She wandered through the overgrown woods, past the stream, and through the hollowed-out tree. It was only after she stumbled upon a pile of rocks covered in ivy that she realized she had found the garden. It was hidden in plain sight. But as she entered, something caught her eye—an old wooden box buried under a patch of flowers. Clara knelt to uncover it, her hands trembling as she brushed away the dirt. Inside was an assortment of letters, each sealed with wax, and a diary from her great-grandmother, hidden away for generations. As Clara flipped through the pages, she learned that her great-grandmother had once protected the garden and its secrets, hiding it to preserve its tranquility from the outside world. Later that night, Clara sat in the dim light of her room, her heart racing. She had uncovered more than just a hidden garden; she had discovered the legacy of secrecy that had been passed down through her family. She understood now why her grandmother had always told her to ‘hide things well’—not to keep them from others, but to protect them from being lost forever. The next morning, Clara went to the town square, knowing the garden would remain a secret, hidden from all who didn’t understand its true meaning. The garden was not just a place to hide but a place to preserve what was precious, to shelter it from the world that would change it.
