in plain sight

Not at all hidden

In plain sight describes something visible and unconcealed, yet often unnoticed: The keys were in plain sight on the counter the whole time.

The phrase often emphasizes irony—that something obvious went unseen, or that someone hid by not hiding at all: The fugitive lived in plain sight for years.

visibility

visible

Able to be seen

unhidden · observable · noticeable · evident · apparent · clear · manifest · overt · seeable · detectable

discovery

revealed

Made visible or known

uncovered · found · spotted · noticed · recognized · identified · exposed · unmasked · disclosed · divulged

concealment

hiding

Staying out of sight

covert · deception · misdirection · overlooked · unnoticed · blending · masquerade · subterfuge · sleight · undetected

Categories
Opposites
visibility/concealment

in plain sighthidden

Kept out of sight

concealed · out of sight · tucked away · invisible · camouflaged

awareness/recognition

in plain sightunnoticed

Not perceived by anyone

overlooked · undetected · unseen · imperceptible · inconspicuous

intentionality of concealment

in plain sightunder wraps

Deliberately kept hidden

in secret · behind closed doors · covertly · clandestinely · surreptitiously

Family

plain, sight, insight, oversight, plains, foresight, sighted, sighting, unsightly

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G