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hide out

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To stay somewhere secret so that people who are looking for you cannot find you.

Literal meaning: To hide somewhere outside or away from one's usual location.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To stay in a secret or concealed location to avoid being found by people seeking you.

"The fugitives hid out in an abandoned warehouse for three days before the police caught them."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 informal

To stay somewhere secluded to avoid people or unwanted attention, not necessarily for criminal reasons.

"After the embarrassing interview went viral, the politician hid out at his country estate."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Common in crime, thriller, and action contexts. Can be used for people avoiding the law, enemies, or unwanted attention. As a noun, 'hideout' is the place where someone hides. Common in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

police enemy authorities cave basement mountain fugitive

Forms

Base
hide out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hides out
he/she/it
Past simple
hid out
yesterday
Past participle
hidden out
have + pp
-ing form
hiding out
continuous

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