Hide vs. Hyde — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 7, 2023
"Hide" means to conceal or keep from sight, while "Hyde" is a surname or refers to Mr. Hyde, a character from Robert Louis Stevenson's novel.
Difference Between Hide and Hyde
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Hide" is a verb that describes the action of concealing something or someone from view, ensuring that it is not seen or found. It can relate to physical concealment or keeping aspects of one's personality or information secret.
"Hyde," in contrast, is primarily known as a surname. One famous Hyde is Edward Hyde, a character from the novel "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," representing the darker side of Dr. Jekyll's personality.
When someone says "hide," they are talking about an action. For example, you might hide during a game of hide-and-seek or hide a surprise gift from a friend.
Discussing "Hyde," one often references a person or the literary character, the latter symbolizing the duality of human nature and the concept of a hidden evil self.
"Hide" has various forms, including "hides," "hiding," and "hid" as its past tense. "Hyde" remains unchanged, as it is a proper noun.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb (action)
Noun (name)
Meaning
To conceal
Surname/Character name
Usage
Common
Less common, unless referencing the character or as a name
Grammatical Forms
Has different tenses
Always capitalized, no other grammatical forms
Cultural Reference
General usage in various contexts
Often associated with literature or as a family name
Compare with Definitions
Hide
To put or keep out of sight or away from notice
Hid the money in a sock.
Hyde
A measure of land in historical context.
One hyde of land was enough for a family.
Hide
To prevent the disclosure or recognition of; conceal
Tried to hide the facts.
Hyde
Used in fictional names to suggest a dual nature.
The novel introduced a character named Gabriel Hyde.
Hide
To cut off from sight; cover up
Clouds hid the stars.
Hyde
A surname of English origin.
Jessica Hyde will present at the conference.
Hide
To avert (one's gaze), especially in shame or grief.
Hyde
Can signify a hidden or darker aspect.
In every person, there's a hidden Hyde.
Hide
To keep oneself out of sight or notice.
Hyde
Referring to the character Mr. Hyde.
The transformation into Mr. Hyde was complete.
Hide
To seek refuge or respite
"no place to hide from boredom or anger or loneliness" (Matt Teague).
Hyde
Alternative form of hide}} {{gloss
Hide
To beat severely; flog.
Hyde
Obsolete form of hide
Hide
The skin of an animal, especially the thick tough skin or pelt of a large animal.
Hide
An old English measure of land, usually the amount held adequate for one free family and its dependents.
Hide
(transitive) To put (something) in a place where it will be harder to discover or out of sight.
He hides his magazines under the bed.
The politicians were accused of keeping information hidden from the public.
Hide
(intransitive) To put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find or out of sight.
Hide
To beat with a whip made from hide.
Hide
(countable) The skin of an animal.
Hide
The human skin.
Hide
One's own life or personal safety, especially when in peril.
To save his own hide
Better watch his hide
Hide
(countable) mainly British A covered structure from which hunters, birdwatchers, etc can observe animals without scaring them.
Hide
A secret room for hiding oneself or valuables; a hideaway.
Hide
(countable) A covered structure to which a pet animal can retreat, as is recommended for snakes.
Hide
(historical) A unit of land and tax assessment of varying size, originally as intended to support one household with dependents.
Hide
To conceal, or withdraw from sight; to put out of view; to secrete.
A city that is set on an hill can not be hid.
If circumstances lead me, I will findWhere truth is hid.
Hide
To withhold from knowledge; to keep secret; to refrain from avowing or confessing.
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate.
Hide
To remove from danger; to shelter.
In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion.
Hide
To lie concealed; to keep one's self out of view; to be withdrawn from sight or observation.
Bred to disguise, in public 'tis you hide.
Hide
To flog; to whip.
Hide
An abode or dwelling.
Hide
The skin of an animal, either raw or dressed; - generally applied to the undressed skins of the larger domestic animals, as oxen, horses, etc.
Hide
The human skin; - so called in contempt.
O tiger's heart, wrapped in a woman's hide!
Hide
The dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
Hide
Body covering of a living animal
Hide
Prevent from being seen or discovered;
Muslim women hide their faces
Hide the money
Hide
Be or go into hiding; keep out of sight, as for protection and safety;
Probably his horse would be close to where he was hiding
She is hiding out in a cabin in Montana
Hide
Cover as if with a shroud;
The origins of this civilization are shrouded in mystery
Hide
Make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing;
A hidden message
A veiled threat
Hide
To conceal something from sight.
She will hide the gift before her mom arrives.
Hide
To keep oneself out of sight.
He decided to hide until they stopped looking for him.
Hide
The skin of an animal.
The hunter sold the deer hide.
Hide
To prevent the discovery of information.
She could hide the truth no longer.
Hide
To cover up or shield.
They used the bushes to hide from view.
Common Curiosities
What does "hide" mean?
It means to conceal from view.
How do you use "hide" in a sentence?
"You can hide the letter in the drawer."
Can "hide" be a noun?
Yes, referring to an animal's skin.
Who is Mr. Hyde?
A fictional character representing the evil side of Dr. Jekyll.
Does "hide" have different tenses?
Yes, including "hid" and "hidden."
What part of speech is "hide"?
It is a verb and sometimes a noun.
Are "hide" and "Hyde" related?
No, they are unrelated in meaning.
What is the origin of "Hyde"?
It is of English origin, used as a surname.
What does "Hyde" symbolize in literature?
It symbolizes the darker side of human nature.
Is "Hyde" always capitalized?
Yes, as it is a proper noun.
Is "Hyde" a common surname?
It's relatively common in English-speaking countries.
Is "Hyde" used outside of names or literature?
Rarely, it's specific to names or cultural references.
What is the verb form of "Hyde"?
"Hyde" is not a verb and does not have verb forms.
Could "hide" imply secrecy?
Yes, it can also mean to keep information secret.
Does "Hyde" refer to something concealed?
Only metaphorically, as in the hidden aspect of Dr. Jekyll.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.