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secret

secret

1.0
A piece of information kept hidden from others
  • noun
  • /ˈsiːkrɪt/
translation icon : secreto
  • Some have learnt the secrets of survival!
  • keep a secret
  • tell someone a secret
  • share a secret

So that is number one on the beauty secrets, God's juice water.

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Examples

  • Many clients who come for therapy keep their decision a secret, even from members of their families.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Would you like to know a secret?

  • Do you wanna know my secret or not?

  • The very fact that she had done this was yet another secret she took to her grave.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We figured we owed you a thanks for keeping our secret.

  • Because you can keep a secret and she can't.

  • Marguerite and I have no secrets from each other.

  • Can you keep a secret if I tell you one?

  • They shared their secrets with each other during the camping trip.

  • Keeping a secret can be difficult when you want to share the news.

Synonyms

confidence
vssecret
41 5.5

A secret that someone tells another person to keep

is information kept hidden without necessarily being entrusted to another person
best-kept secret
vssecret
8 4.5

A place or thing only a few people know about that is especially good

is information kept hidden without implying rarity or special value
hidden truth
vssecret
2 6.2

A fact that people keep secret from others

is information kept hidden but not necessarily an important concealed reality
super-secret
vssecret
1 7.7

A very private piece of information kept from most people

is information kept hidden generally rather than being classified as extremely confidential
arcanum
vssecret
  • Literature
1 9.9

A secret piece of knowledge known by only a few people

is simple hidden information without the sense of mystery or exclusivity

Antonyms

176 4.1

Making secret or new information known to others

175 5.0

A surprising fact that people did not know before

Idioms

56 2.5

In a way other people do not know

A helpful idea or tool kept secret to use when needed

Compounds

381 3.4

A United States government group that protects the president and vice president and investigates fake money

top-secret
  • Formal
65 5.9

Information that only a very small number of people are allowed to know

top secret
  • Formal
55 4.2

Information that the government keeps private for security reasons

27 3.4

A person who gathers hidden information for a government about enemies

27 6.6

A group that works for the government in secret to watch and punish people who oppose it

A group whose members keep their identity and activities hidden from others

A private job done secretly to gather information

trade secret
  • Specialized
15 3.9

Secret method or recipe a business keeps to stay ahead of other companies

A hidden thing added to food or an idea that makes it better

13 4.3

A plan people keep secret to do something wrong

11 6.5

Information a government keeps secret because it affects the country's safety

People vote privately so no one knows their choice

A place or thing only a few people know about that is especially good

open secret
  • Informal
6 4.0

Something people try to hide but many already know

A private hand gesture used by a group to show membership or friendship

3 5.2

A set of words, letters or signs used to hide a message

3 7.4

Very private and known by only a few people

A government group that protects the US president, vice president, their families, visiting leaders, and stops people making fake money

2 3.4

A fact many people know although others try to keep it hidden

secret code
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A set of numbers or letters used to unlock an account

secret writing
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A way of writing that uses codes so only certain people can read it

1 7.7

A very private piece of information kept from most people

A United States government agency that protects the president, other top officials, and investigates money crimes

secret handshake
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A short message exchange that proves identity and creates keys for secure communication

A British government group that gathers secret information overseas and protects Britain from foreign spies

An armed group that attacked to force Turkey to admit the Armenian Genocide, pay money, and give land to Armenia

A place or fact known only by people who live nearby

A silent permission for someone to do something wrong

A list of ingredients and steps that people keep secret to make a food unique

How Secret

top secret
  • Formal
55 4.2
state secret
11 6.5
secret
1.0

Surface Forms

secret singular
secrets plural

Etymology

The word secret comes from Latin se- 'apart' and a root for 'to separate', like in separate, so a secret is simply a piece of information you keep 'apart' from other people. That's why you promise to keep someone's secret and not tell anyone.