secret
gb/sˈikɹɪt/ us/sˈikɹɪt/
A2
English
~ 2600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Something not told to others
Something you know but do not tell other people.
Usage pattern:
to keep [a secret]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'secret' with 'mystery'; 'secret' is something known by someone but hidden from others, while 'mystery' can be unknown to everyone.
Synonyms
confidential information (More formal and often used in professional or legal contexts.)
Antonyms
public knowledge (Information that is known by everyone.)
Collocations
keep a secret
|tell a secret
|reveal a secret
|share a secret
|guard a secret
Themes
relationships
|privacy
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She told me a secret about her childhood.
- The company’s new product is a closely guarded secret.
- You can trust him; he knows how to keep a secret.
- They finally revealed the secret after many years.
- This recipe is a family secret.
Learner examples
- I told my friend a secret.
- He can keep a secret.
- She shared a secret with me.
- We have a big secret.
- Do not tell anyone this secret.
adjective
A2
property
2
Hidden or not known by others
Not known or seen by other people.
Usage pattern:
a secret [plan/place/meeting]
Common mistake:
Learners may misuse 'secret' when 'private' is more appropriate; 'secret' implies intentional concealment, while 'private' may simply mean personal.
Synonyms
hidden (General term for not being visible or known; may refer to physical or abstract things.)
Antonyms
open (Not hidden; accessible or visible to all.)
Collocations
secret meeting
|secret plan
|secret location
|secret code
Themes
privacy
|security
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They held a secret meeting late at night.
- The spy carried out a secret mission.
- We found a secret path through the forest.
- She has a secret talent for singing.
Learner examples
- We met in a secret place.
- He told me about his secret plan.
- This is our secret room.
- She has a secret box.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Key factor for achieving success
Something that helps you succeed when other people do not know about it.
Usage pattern:
the secret to [success/happiness/etc.]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'secret' here with 'mystery'; this sense refers to a known method or factor, not something unexplained.
Synonyms
key (Metaphorical term meaning an essential factor for achieving something.)
Antonyms
obstacle (Something that makes success harder instead of easier.)
Collocations
secret to success
|secret ingredient
|secret formula
Themes
success
|self-improvement
|work
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The secret to her success is hard work and persistence.
- This sauce’s amazing flavor comes from one secret ingredient.
- Patience is the secret to good gardening.
Learner examples
- The secret to my good cake is fresh milk.
- Hard work is the secret to his success.
- The secret ingredient makes it taste great.
Grammar
Dictionary form
secret
IPA
GB/sˈikɹɪt/
US/sˈikɹɪt/
Syllables & stress
secret (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (secret)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: secret
Noun
- Base: secret
- Plural: secret, secrets
Word family
Expressions
keep a secret
3/kˈip ə sˈikɹɪt/
fixed phrase
Not tell hidden information
To not tell other people something you know.
Examples
- Can you keep a secret? I’m getting married next month.
- She promised to keep my secret no matter what.
the secret to [something]
4/ðə sˈikɹɪt tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Key factor for achieving something
The most important thing that helps you get or do something well.
Examples
- The secret to learning a language is daily practice.
- Fresh ingredients are the secret to this dish’s flavor.
in secret
1/ˈɪn sˈikɹɪt/
fixed phrase
Do something without others knowing
To do something so that other people do not know about it.
Examples
- They met in secret to discuss the plan.
- He worked in secret on his invention.
in secret
2/ˈɪn sˈikɹɪt/
fixed phrase
hidden from others
Done so that other people do not know about it.
Examples
- They met in secret to discuss the deal.
- The two friends worked in secret on their project.