Definition of 'secret'
Word forms: plural secrets
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun] [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If something is secret, it is known about by only a small number of people, and is not told or shown to anyone else.
Soldiers have been training at a secret location.
The police have been trying to keep the documents secret.
3. countable noun
A secret is a fact that is known by only a small number of people, and is not told to anyone else.
I think he enjoyed keeping our love a secret.
I didn't want anyone to know about it, it was my secret.
4. singular noun
5. countable noun [usually plural, oft with poss]
6.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'secret'
adjective
noun
7.
something kept or to be kept hidden
8.
something unrevealed; mystery
11. liturgy
12. in the secret
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
adverb
Word origin of 'secret'
adjective
1.
kept from public knowledge or from the knowledge of a certain person or persons
4.
6.
acting in secret
a secret society
noun
7.
something known only to a certain person or persons and purposely kept from the knowledge of others
10. [S-]
a prayer said just before the Preface of the Mass
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: secret, the general term, implies a concealing or keeping from the knowledge of others,
for whatever reason [my secret opinion of him]; covert implies a concealing as by disguising or veiling [a covert threat]; clandestine suggests that what is being kept secret is of an illicit, immoral, or proscribed
nature [their clandestine meetings in the park]; stealthy implies a slow, quiet secrecy of action in an attempt to elude notice and often connotes
deceit [the stealthy advance of the panther]; furtive adds to this connotations of slyness or watchfulness and suggests a reprehensible
objective [the furtive movement of his hand toward my pocket]; surreptitious connotes a feeling of guilt in the one who is acting in a furtive or stealthy manner
[she stole a surreptitious glance at him]; underhanded implies a stealthiness characterized by fraudulence or deceit [underhanded business dealings] OPPOSITES: open, obvious
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
adverb
Example sentences containing 'secret'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
Read more…
Her secret work for social justice was an endless `Hail Mary ', penance for her self-confessed sins. THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)He slowly closed his eye, and a small and secret smile spread across his mouth. LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2002)And maybe your DI thought Jax had let him in on their little secret. CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2002)
Trends of 'secret'
Very Common. secret is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
View usage for:
Translations for 'secret'
British English: secret
/ˈsiːkrɪt/ ADJECTIVE
If something is secret, it is known about by only a small number of people, and is not told or shown to anyone else.
The police tried to keep the documents secret.
- American English: secret
- Arabic: سِرِّيّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: secreto
- Chinese: 秘密的
- Croatian: tajni
- Czech: tajný
- Danish: hemmelig
- Dutch: geheim
- European Spanish: secreto
- Finnish: salainen
- French: secret
- German: geheim
- Greek: μυστικός
- Italian: segreto
- Japanese: 秘密の
- Korean: 비밀의
- Norwegian: hemmelig
- Polish: tajny
- European Portuguese: secreto
- Romanian: secret
- Russian: тайный
- Spanish: secreto
- Swedish: hemlig
- Thai: เป็นความลับ
- Turkish: gizli
- Ukrainian: секретний
- Vietnamese: bí mật
British English: secret
/ˈsiːkrɪt/ NOUN
A secret is a fact that is known by only a small number of people, and is not told to anyone else.
Can you keep a secret?
- American English: secret
- Arabic: سِرّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: segredo
- Chinese: 秘密
- Croatian: tajna
- Czech: tajemství
- Danish: hemmelighed
- Dutch: geheim
- European Spanish: secreto
- Finnish: salaisuus
- French: secret
- German: Geheimnis
- Greek: μυστικό
- Italian: segreto
- Japanese: 秘密
- Korean: 비밀
- Norwegian: hemmelighet
- Polish: sekret
- European Portuguese: segredo
- Romanian: secret
- Russian: секрет
- Spanish: secreto
- Swedish: hemlighet
- Thai: ความลับ
- Turkish: sır
- Ukrainian: секрет
- Vietnamese: điều bí mật
Nearby words of 'secret'
Related Terms of 'secret'
Source
Definition of secret from the
Collins English Dictionary
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Unlock language with the Paul Noble method
No books. No rote memorization. No chance of failure. Your chance to have a one-to-one lesson with best-selling language expert Paul Noble, try a FREE audio sample of his brand new Mandarin Chinese course.
Read more
13th edition of the Collins Dictionary out now!
Updated with all the very latest new words and senses, this new 13th edition is an unparalleled resource for word lovers, word gamers, and word geeks everywhere.
#homeoflivingenglish
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Rainbow Tree, Asymmetric Wreath, and Period Poverty: November’s Words in the News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this November with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more