secret

adjective

UK /ˈsiːkrət/

1
deliberately not told to other people, or kept hidden from other people
The diary records her most secret thoughts and feelings.
Police discovered a secret bomb factory.
keep something secret:
The Minister denied that the report was being kept secret.
secret talks:
Secret talks were held in the hope of settling the dispute.
a secret location:
They are now at a secret location agreed with social services.
Synonyms and related words
Secret, secretive and in secret
secret
secretive
surreptitious
1. 1a
  not known about by many people
  We love coming here because it’s like a secret garden.
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious
  Synonyms and related words
  Not known or difficult to know
  secret
  private
  personal
2. 1b
  used for describing someone who does something in secret
  a secret lover
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious
3. 1c
  informaldeliberately not telling people things
  He can be the most secret man alive.
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious

secret

adjective

US /ˈsikrət/

1
deliberately not told to other people, or kept hidden from other people
The diary records her most secret thoughts and feelings.
Police discovered a secret bomb factory.
keep something secret:
The congresswoman denied that the report was being kept secret.
secret talks:
Secret talks were held in the hope of settling the dispute.
a secret location:
They are now at a secret location agreed with social services.
Synonyms and related words
Secret, secretive and in secret
secret
secretive
surreptitious
1. 1a
  not known about by many people
  We love coming here because it’s like a secret garden.
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious
  Synonyms and related words
  Not known or difficult to know
  secret
  private
  personal
2. 1b
  used for describing someone who does something in secret
  a secret lover
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious
3. 1c
  informaldeliberately not telling people things
  He can be the most secret man alive.
  Synonyms and related words
  Secret, secretive and in secret
  secret
  secretive
  surreptitious

secret

noun countable

UK /ˈsiːkrət/

Word Forms

singular	secret
plural	secrets

1
a piece of information that is known by only a small number of people, and is deliberately not told to other people
He was accused of selling business secrets to competitors.
I can’t tell you what she said – it’s a secret.
Your secret is safe with me (=I will not tell anyone).
The secret is out (=everyone knows about it).
It cannot remain a secret much longer.
keep a secret (=not tell anyone):
Can you promise to keep a secret?
keep something a secret (from someone):
Mandela kept his work a secret from the prison authorities.
let someone in on a secret (=tell someone a secret):
Listen, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
Synonyms and related words
Secrets and secretiveness
secret
confidentiality
stealth
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with secret
▪ big, closely-guarded, dark, guilty, innermost, well-kept
Verbs frequently used with secret as the object
▪ betray, confide, disclose, divulge, reveal, share, tell
2
usually pluralsomething that cannot be explained or that is difficult to understand
What secrets of the universe will the new telescope reveal?
Synonyms and related words
Mysteries, riddles and unknown things or people
mystery
riddle
uncertainty
3
a particular way of achieving something
She always looks so slim – I wish I knew her secret.
The secret is always to warm the pot before putting in the tea.
secret of:
The secret of our success is having highly skilled staff.
Synonyms and related words
Systems and methods for doing things
modality
method
system

phrases

in secret

it is no secret that

make no secret of something

secret

noun countable

US /ˈsikrət/

Word Forms

singular	secret
plural	secrets

1
a piece of information that is known by only a small number of people, and is deliberately not told to other people
It cannot remain a secret much longer.
I can’t tell you what she said – it’s a secret.
He was accused of selling business secrets to competitors.
Your secret is safe with me (=I will not tell anyone).
The secret is out (=everyone knows about it).
keep a secret (=not tell anyone):
Can you promise to keep a secret?
keep something a secret (from someone):
Mandela kept his work a secret from the prison authorities.
let someone in on a secret (=tell someone a secret):
Listen, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
Synonyms and related words
Secrets and secretiveness
secret
confidentiality
stealth
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with secret
▪ big, closely-guarded, dark, guilty, innermost, well-kept
Verbs frequently used with secret as the object
▪ betray, confide, disclose, divulge, reveal, share, tell
2
usually pluralsomething that cannot be explained or that is difficult to understand
What secrets of the universe will the new telescope reveal?
Synonyms and related words
Mysteries, riddles and unknown things or people
mystery
riddle
uncertainty
3
a particular way of achieving something
She always looks so slim – I wish I knew her secret.
The secret is always to warm the pot before putting in the tea.
secret of:
The secret of our success is having highly skilled workers.
Synonyms and related words
Systems and methods for doing things
modality
method
system

phrases

in secret

it is no secret that

make no secret of something

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