Mask — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈmask/

Meaning & Definition of Mask

Mask (noun)

  1. a cover or partial cover for the face used for disguise
  2. a person wearing a mask, masker
  3. a figure of a head worn on the stage in antiquity to identify the character and project the voice

Mask (verb)

  1. to provide or conceal (someone or something) with a mask
  2. to conceal (something) from view
  3. to make (something) indistinct or imperceptible

Mask (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a cover or partial cover for the face used to disguise oneself

    "an elaborate mask that would be suitable for a fancy masquerade ball"

    similar: vizard
    related: camouflage, costume, disguise, guise, bill, cloak, domino, hood, veil, visor

  2. something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth

    "his unexpected friendliness is just a mask, for he always has an ulterior motive"

    similar: blanket, cloak, cope, cover, cover-up, covering, coverture, curtain, hood, mantle, pall, penumbra, robe, shroud, veil, wraps
    related: blind, concealer, screen, shield, fig leaf, Potemkin village, Trojan horse, camouflage, disguise, facade, face, veneer, gloss, varnish

Mask (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to change the dress or looks of so as to conceal true identity

    "the federal agents masked their surveillance vehicle so that it looked like an ordinary moving van"

    similar: camouflage, cloak, disguise, dress up
    related: blanket, blot out, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occult, screen, shroud, veil, affect, assume, counterfeit, dissemble, dissimulate, feign, pose, pretend, sham, simulate, act, fake, impersonate, masquerade, play, cosmeticize, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash
    opposite: unmask
    near: display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, parade, show, uncloak, unclothe, uncover, undrape, unveil, bare, betray, disclose, discover, divulge, reveal

  2. to keep secret or shut off from view

    "masked his real motives for wanting to see the house that was for sale"

    similar: belie, blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, disguise, enshroud, hide, obscure, occult, paper over, screen, shroud, suppress, veil
    related: bury, camouflage, cover (up), smother, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash, becloud, bedim, befog, block, cloud, darken, eclipse, obstruct, occlude, overcast, overshadow, shade
    opposite: bare, disclose, display, divulge, expose, reveal, show, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil
    near: bring out, present, clarify, illuminate, advertise, air, broadcast, get out, proclaim, publicize, publish, spread

Related Entry: Masque (noun)

Masque is a different word from Mask. The synonyms below are for masque, not for mask.

  1. as in masquerade, soiree

    similar: blowout, celebration, event, festival, festivity, fete, gala, masquerade, mixer, party, reception, shindig, soiree, ball, cotillion, dance, formal, hop, prom, hoedown, square dance

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mask

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mask:

vizard, blanket, cloak, cope, cover, cover-up, covering, coverture, curtain, hood, mantle, pall, penumbra, robe, shroud, veil, wraps, camouflage, disguise, dress up, belie, blot out, conceal, enshroud, hide, obscure, occult, paper over, screen, suppress

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Mask

Words with the opposite meaning of Mask:

unmask, bare, disclose, display, divulge, expose, reveal, show, uncloak, uncover, unveil

Related Words for Mask

costume, guise, bill, domino, visor, blind, concealer, shield, fig leaf, Potemkin village, Trojan horse, facade, face, veneer, gloss, varnish, affect, assume, counterfeit, dissemble, dissimulate, feign, pose, pretend, sham, simulate, act, fake, impersonate, masquerade

Near Antonyms of Mask

exhibit, flaunt, parade, unclothe, undrape, betray, discover, bring out, present, clarify, illuminate, advertise, air, broadcast, get out, proclaim, publicize, publish, spread

Word Forms of Mask

Inflections: masks, masked, masking

Derived words: masklike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Mask

Middle French masque, from Old Italian maschera

First known use: circa 1533

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Mask

Words & Phrases Containing Mask

mask acne, death mask, face mask, gas mask, oxygen mask, procedure mask, shadow mask

Frequently Asked Questions about Mask

What does "Mask" mean?

"Mask" means a cover or partial cover for the face used for disguise. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a cover or partial cover for the face used for disguise. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Mask"?

Other words for "Mask" include vizard, blanket, cloak, cope, cover, cover-up, covering and coverture. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mask" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mask"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mask". Common alternatives include vizard, blanket, cloak, cope, cover, cover-up, covering, coverture, curtain and hood.

What is the opposite of "Mask"?

Antonyms of "Mask" include unmask, bare, disclose, display, divulge, expose, reveal and show. Near antonyms include exhibit, flaunt, parade and unclothe.

How do you use "Mask" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mask" in a sentence: "an elaborate mask that would be suitable for a fancy masquerade ball"; "his unexpected friendliness is just a mask, for he always has an ulterior motive"; "the federal agents masked their surveillance vehicle so that it looked like an ordinary moving van".

Is "Mask" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mask" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Mask" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Mask" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Mask"?

"Mask" is pronounced /ˈmask/.