What is hide? Pronunciation and usage in English

hide means . Learn how to pronounce and use hide through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of hide

hideverb

/hʌɪd/
Definition & pronunciation of hide

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "hide." It's a bit trickier than it looks because it has a subtle shift in sound. Here's the breakdown:

The most common and standard pronunciation is:

  • /haɪ/ (like the "hi" in "high")

Let's break it down further:

  1. The "hi" sound: Start with the vowel sound like in the word "high." It's a high, open vowel.

  2. The "d" sound is silent: This is the key! The "d" doesn't make a distinct "d" sound. It's almost completely swallowed. You're not really pronouncing a "d" at all.

  3. Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("hi").

Here's how it sounds (using phonetics - a system that describes sounds):

[haɪ]

Tips for getting it right:

  • Listen carefully: The best way to learn is to hear native speakers. You can search for "how to pronounce hide" on YouTube or listen to examples on Merriam-Webster's website: https://www.merriam-webster.com/audio/pronunciation/hide
  • Practice: Say the word repeatedly, paying close attention to making the "d" silent.
  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying "hide" and compare it to a native speaker's pronunciation.

Important Note: You might hear some regional variations. In some dialects, the 'd' might be slightly more pronounced, but the /haɪ/ pronunciation is overwhelmingly the most common and generally accepted.

Do you want me to:

  • Generate an audio clip of the pronunciation?
  • Give you some example sentences using the word "hide"?

Usage and examples with the word hide in English

Let's break down how to use the word "hide" in English. It's a versatile word with a few different meanings and ways to incorporate it into sentences.

1. To Conceal or Keep Secret:

  • Most Common Meaning: This is the primary use of "hide." It means to keep something out of sight, usually because you don't want others to see it or know about it.

    • Examples:
      • "She hid her tears behind a smile." (Concealing emotions)
      • "He hid the money under the mattress." (Keeping something secret)
      • "The company tried to hide the negative news from the public." (Concealing information)
      • "Don't hide your feelings; tell me what's wrong." (Preventing someone from concealing something)

2. To Cover or Shelter (Something or Someone):

  • "Hide" can also mean to provide shelter or protection from something, often danger or the elements.

    • Examples:
      • "The animals hid in the cave during the storm." (Seeking shelter)
      • "The tree branches hid the house from view." (Covering something)
      • "The blanket helped hide the scratches on my arm." (Concealing a blemish)

3. To Be Concealed or Obscured:

  • You can use "hide" as a verb form of the adjective "hidden."

    • Examples:
      • “The evidence hides in plain sight.” (The evidence is hidden)
      • “The mountain hides behind the clouds.” (The mountain is obscured)

4. Phrases and Idioms with "Hide":

  • Hide out: To go to a secret place to avoid someone or something. “He hid out in the mountains after robbing the bank.”
  • Hide from: To try to avoid someone or something. “She was trying to hide from her ex-boyfriend.”
  • Hide something away: To keep something secret and out of sight, often with a feeling of reluctance or shame. “She hid her old photos away in a box.”
  • Hide behind someone: To use someone else’s presence or actions to avoid dealing with a situation or responsibility. “He hid behind his team’s success to avoid taking the blame.”

5. Grammatical Notes:

  • Regular Verb: "Hide" is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle are "hid" and "hidden" respectively.
    • "I hid the keys."
    • "The book was hidden."

Let’s practice! Here are some sentences to try:

  1. The detective needed to ______ the suspect to gather more information.
  2. The kittens ______ under the sofa when the dog barked.
  3. Please ______ your face when you are embarrassed.
  4. The forest _______ the town from the road.

Answers to practice sentences:

  1. hide
  2. hid
  3. hide
  4. hid

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Focus on a specific usage of "hide" (e.g., using it in a story)?
  • Explain how "hide" relates to the adjective "hidden"?

Synonyms for the word hide

Idioms of the word hide

bury/hide your head in the sand
to refuse to admit that a problem exists or refuse to deal with it
    cover/hide a multitude of sins
    (often humorous)to hide the real situation or facts when these are not good or pleasant
    • She was dressed in loose comfortable clothes that hid a multitude of sins.
    hide your light under a bushel
    to not let people know that you are good at something
      you can run but you can't hide
      used to say that whatever you do, you cannot escape the consequences of your actions

        Practice with vocabulary hide

        Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

        1. The company's new data encryption protocol aims to ________ sensitive client information from unauthorized access.
        2. During the difficult negotiation, the experienced diplomat managed to ________ his true intentions, maintaining a poker face.
        3. A dense fog began to ________ the distant mountains, making navigation difficult for the ships.
        4. The investigative report promised to ________ the complex network of corruption within the organization.

        Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

        1. Which of the following verbs can be used to describe an action of keeping something secret or out of sight? a. disclose b. reveal c. exhibit d. conceal e. hide

        2. After the controversial decision, the government sought to ________ the public outcry from international media. a. amplify b. publicize c. suppress d. obscure e. hide

        3. To avoid the persistent questions from journalists, the celebrity decided to ________ away for a few weeks. a. emerge b. appear c. withdraw d. surface e. hide

        4. Which word is an antonym for 'reveal'? a. expose b. disclose c. unveil d. mask e. present

        5. The new security features were designed to ________ the confidential files from any digital intrusion. a. expose b. compromise c. safeguard d. jeopardize e. protect

        Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

        1. Rewrite the sentence, using "hide": The researcher tried to keep the preliminary findings secret until peer review.

        2. Rewrite the sentence, using "hide": Despite the pressure, the CEO managed to make his nervousness not visible.

        3. Rewrite the sentence, replacing the italicized phrase with a suitable alternative (do not use "hide" or its forms): It is crucial to keep the company's proprietary information secure from competitors.

        Answer:

        Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

        1. hide
        2. hide
        3. obscure
        4. uncover

        Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

        1. d. conceal, e. hide
        2. c. suppress, d. obscure, e. hide
        3. c. withdraw, e. hide
        4. d. mask
        5. c. safeguard, e. protect

        Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

        1. The researcher tried to hide the preliminary findings until peer review.
        2. Despite the pressure, the CEO managed to hide his nervousness.
        3. It is crucial to safeguard the company's proprietary information from competitors.

        Comment ()