Conceal vs They hide in mountains seeking riches

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Conceal

FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)C1verb

They hide in mountains seeking riches

Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: ConcealMost common: They hide in mountains seeking riches
 ConcealThey hide in mountains seeking riches
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //kənˈsiːl//🇺🇸 //kənˈsil//🇬🇧 //ðeɪ haɪd ɪn ˈmaʊntɪnz ˈsiːkɪŋ ˈrɪtʃɪz//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ haɪd ɪn ˈmaʊntənz ˈsiːkɪŋ ˈrɪtʃɪz//
MeaningTo hide something so that it cannot be seen or found.They conceal themselves in mountains looking for wealth.
ExampleHe tried to conceal his feelings from everyone.They hide in mountains seeking riches from lost treasures.
RegisterFormalNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsconceal from others, conceal the truth, conceal evidenceseek riches, hide in mountains, treasure hunters, wealth seekers, mountain adventures
Antonymsreveal, expose, disclose-
Common mistakesConfused with 'reveal' - opposite meaning., Using 'concel' - misspelling., Confusing with 'disguise' - different meaning.Confusing 'hide' with 'seek', Using 'in' instead of 'on' when referring to mountains, Mixing up 'riches' with 'rich'
Usage notesUse 'conceal' in formal contexts, such as writing or serious discussions. Avoid casual conversation.This phrase is often used in storytelling or descriptions. Avoid using in very formal contexts.

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They hide in mountains seeking riches

Frequently asked questions: Conceal vs They hide in mountains seeking riches

What's the difference between Conceal and They hide in mountains seeking riches?

Conceal: To hide something so that it cannot be seen or found. They hide in mountains seeking riches: They conceal themselves in mountains looking for wealth.

Which is more formal: Conceal and They hide in mountains seeking riches?

Conceal is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Conceal and They hide in mountains seeking riches?

They hide in mountains seeking riches is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Conceal: He tried to conceal his feelings from everyone. They hide in mountains seeking riches: They hide in mountains seeking riches from lost treasures.

Can I use Conceal and They hide in mountains seeking riches interchangeably?

Not always. Conceal and They hide in mountains seeking riches are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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