Bury

/ˈbɛri/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To put (something) into the earth and cover it.

/ˈbɛri/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To place something in the ground and cover it.

The dog buried its bone in the garden.

💡 Simply: To hide something in the ground.

More Examples

2

We buried the time capsule.

How It's Used

Funeral Rites

"They buried their loved one in the cemetery."

Gardening

"I buried the seeds deep in the soil."

2

To cover or hide completely.

/ˈbɛri/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To hide or cover completely.

He buried his emotions.

💡 Simply: To hide something completely.

More Examples

2

The snow buried the car.

How It's Used

Figurative

"She buried her face in her hands."

Tip:Imagine burying a secret; you're hiding it deeply.

Idioms & expressions

bury the hatchet

To end a quarrel or conflict.

"After years of fighting, they finally decided to bury the hatchet."

From Old English *byrgian, from Proto-Germanic *burgjaną, meaning "to build, to construct," ultimately related to the word "burgh" (a fortified place). The sense shifted to "to hide" and then to "to put in the ground."

Historically, 'bury' was used more frequently in relation to building and constructing things, reflecting its etymological roots.

Memory tip

Think of a 'burrow,' where animals hide underground.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"to build, to construct"

Base: bury
bury a secretbury one's head in the sandbury oneself in work

Common misspellings

burryberry

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written