1.
to turn face down, to lay something face down
To place something with its open or front side facing downward.
カードを伏せる。
Turn the card face down.
コップを伏せて乾かす。
Turn the cup upside down and let it dry.
食べ終わったら茶碗を伏せておいてください。
When you're done eating, please turn your bowl upside down.
2.
to hide, to conceal, to keep secret
To deliberately withhold information or keep something out of sight.
名前を伏せる。
Conceal the name.
事実を伏せて報告した。
The report was made with the facts concealed.
関係者の名前は伏せたまま記事が公開された。
The article was published with the names of those involved kept secret.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 目を伏せる (cast one's eyes down)
- カードを伏せる (turn a card face down)
- 名前を伏せる (withhold a name)
- 事実を伏せる (conceal a fact)
The sense 1 meaning (turning face down) often appears in instructions or descriptions of physical actions. The sense 2 meaning (concealing) is frequently used in news reporting and formal writing.