hidden

HID-uhn/ˈhɪd(ə)n/

4 meanings of hidden

1
adjective
Put or kept somewhere so it cannot be seen.
Like a toy pushed under the bed where nobody can see it.
The keys were hidden under a pile of papers.
She found a hidden door behind the bookshelf.
UsageSay hidden from someone, or well hidden when it is hard to find.
Similarconcealed, secret, unseen, invisible, covert
Oppositevisible, exposed, open, uncovered
Note
2
adjective
Not easy to see or understand at first.
Like a secret you only notice after thinking hard about it.
The poem had a hidden meaning that most readers missed.
There was a hidden message in the song's lyrics.
UsageOften in hidden meaning and hidden costs.
Similarveiled, underlying, obscure, implicit, latent
Oppositeobvious, explicit, overt, apparent
3
verb
Past participle of hide. Use this form after words like have, has, or was.
They have hidden the spare key under a rock.
He has hidden his savings in a coffee tin.
UsageYesterday they hid it; now they have hidden it.
Note

Less common meaning

4
noun
A crossword clue where the answer hides inside the other words, with its letters in order.

hidden is a form of hide

hide, verb: To put something or yourself where others cannot see or find it. Full entry

Forms: hidehides he/she/ithiding -ing formhid past tensehidden past participle
Spelling: hide → hidden: irregular (no -ed)

Practice

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Origin

It comes from "hid" plus the ending "-en".

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Hidden is formed from hid plus the ending -en. en.wiktionary.org