hyde: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “hyde” mean?
To put or keep out of sight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To put or keep out of sight; to conceal oneself or something.
To keep information, feelings, or one's identity secret; the skin of an animal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Both 'hide-and-seek' (BrE) and 'hide-and-go-seek' (AmE) are used for the children's game. The noun 'hide' meaning a concealed observation point for watching wildlife is more common in BrE.
Connotations
Similar connotations of secrecy, protection, and sometimes deceit. The noun for animal skin carries the same technical/traditional connotations.
Frequency
The verb is high-frequency in both varieties. The noun meaning 'animal skin' is low-frequency and somewhat archaic/technical.
Grammar
How to Use “hyde” in a Sentence
[NP] hide [NP][NP] hide [NP] from [NP][NP] hide [PrepP] (e.g., hide behind the sofa)[NP] hide [NP] [PrepP] (e.g., hide the letter in the drawer)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hyde” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children love to hide in the garden shed.
- He tried to hide his Scottish accent.
- The documents were hidden in a safe deposit box.
American English
- The kids love to hide in the treehouse.
- She couldn't hide her excitement.
- He hid the keys under the doormat.
adverb
British English
- N/A (no standard adverb form).
American English
- N/A (no standard adverb form).
adjective
British English
- N/A (no standard adjective form. 'Hidden' is the participle used adjectivally).
American English
- N/A (no standard adjective form. 'Hidden' is the participle used adjectivally).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of concealing financial information, trade secrets, or true intentions ('They tried to hide the company's losses').
Academic
Used in psychology/literature to discuss hidden motives, repressed emotions, or subtext.
Everyday
Very common for concealing objects, oneself, or feelings ('Where did you hide my phone?', 'I couldn't hide my disappointment').
Technical
In computing: to make a file or process invisible. In wildlife biology: a concealed shelter for observation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hyde”
- Incorrect: 'I hided the key.' Correct: 'I hid the key.'
- Incorrect: 'He is hiden in the garden.' Correct: 'He is hiding/hidden in the garden.'
- Confusing 'hide' (verb) with 'hyde' (a surname/place name).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The past tense is 'hid'. The past participle is 'hidden'.
It is an irregular verb: hide - hid - hidden.
'Conceal' is more formal and often implies a deliberate, active effort to prevent discovery. 'Hide' is more general and common in everyday speech.
Yes, with two main meanings: 1) the act of hiding or a concealed location ('a good hide'), and 2) the skin of an animal, especially when tanned ('buffalo hide'). The second meaning is less common in general conversation.
To put or keep out of sight.
Hyde is usually neutral to informal in register.
Hyde: in British English it is pronounced /haɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /haɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hide your light under a bushel”
- “have nowhere to hide”
- “tan someone's hide”
- “hide nor hair”
- “hide your face in shame”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HYDE park where you could HIDE behind a tree.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/TRUTH IS LIGHT, IGNORANCE/SECRECY IS DARKNESS (to hide something is to keep it in the dark). EMOTIONS ARE FLUIDS (to hide feelings is to dam them up).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning of the noun 'hide'?