Secret Definition & Meaning
secret
- adjective
- not open or public; kept private or not revealed; "a secret formula"; "secret ingredients"; "secret talks"
- conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods; "clandestine intelligence operations"; "cloak-and-dagger activities behind enemy lines"; "hole-and-corner intrigue"; "secret missions"; "a secret agent"; "secret sales of arms"; "surreptitious mobilization of troops"; "an undercover investigation"; "underground resistance"
- not openly made known; "a secret marriage"; "a secret bride"
- communicated covertly; "their secret signal was a wink"; "secret messages"
- not expressed; "secret (or private) thoughts"
- designed to elude detection; "a hidden room or place of concealment such as a priest hole"; "a secret passage"; "the secret compartment in the desk"
- hidden from general view or use; "a privy place to rest and think"; "a secluded romantic spot"; "a secret garden"
- (of information) given in confidence or in secret; "this arrangement must be kept confidential"; "their secret communications"
- indulging only covertly; "a secret alcoholic"
- having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding; "mysterious symbols"; "the mystical style of Blake"; "occult lore"; "the secret learning of the ancients"
- the next to highest level of official classification for documents
- noun
- something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on); "the combination to the safe was a secret"; "he tried to keep his drinking a secret"
- information known only to a special group; "the secret of Cajun cooking"
- something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained; "how it got out is a mystery"; "it remains one of nature's secrets"
"Secret" in song lyrics
See how secret is used in real songs:
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"Spendin' nice out of state, wearin' Victoria Secret"
9th Prince — Foolish Ways -
"I'm in a doom, doom generation, pacin', ancient electric secret"
AesopROCK — Basic Cable -
"My kitchen sink leaks like your itching to speak a secret"
Aesop Rock — Shovel
Words that rhyme with secret
Usage tips for "secret"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "secret" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for secret to find words that pair well.