hidden

adjective

hid·​den ˈhi-dᵊn How to pronounce hidden (audio)
Synonyms of hidden
1
: being out of sight or not readily apparent : concealed
2
: obscure, unexplained, undisclosed
hidden motives
hiddenness
ˈhi-dᵊn-nəs How to pronounce hidden (audio)
noun

Synonyms of hidden

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hidden in a Sentence

There was a hidden flaw in the airplane's design. the hidden costs in buying a home
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Terra Incognita moves more laterally, each track folding in on itself as the players discover and document all its hidden strata. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026 Either way, the hidden side zipper ensures a nice fit and easy wear, and adjustable drawstring shorts complete the cute and comfy look. — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 12 July 2026 As a genealogist, Baxter has helped over 150 people trace their ancestral roots through her organization Our Genetic Legacy, a nonprofit committed to uncovering the hidden histories of Black and Indigenous people. — Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026 Lovevook Travel Backpack with Packing Cubes This weekender backpack, a cute yet functional option with gold hardware, a drink sleeve with adjustable straps, and a hidden pocket for valuables. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hidden

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hidden was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing hidden

Rhymes for hidden

See All Rhymes for hidden

Browse Nearby Words

Hidatsa
hidden
hidden agenda
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hidden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hidden. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hidden

Nglish: Translation of hidden for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All