To hide or conceal (something such as an object, fact, or feeling) so that it is not noticeable.
彼女は本当の不満を表面に潜めて笑った。
She hid her real dissatisfaction and smiled on the surface.
証拠を潜めるために書類を別の場所に移した。
He moved the documents to another place to conceal the evidence.
彼は普段は冷静だが、本音を潜めていることがある。
He is usually calm, but sometimes he keeps his true feelings hidden.
To lower the volume of a sound or one's voice so it cannot be heard (often used as 'to lower one's voice').
図書館では声を潜めて話してください。
Please speak in a low voice in the library.
注意深く耳を澄ますと、隣室の話し声が潜められて聞こえた。
If you listen carefully, you could faintly hear the lowed voices from the next room.
彼は夜に近所に迷惑をかけないように音量を潜めた。
He lowered the volume at night so as not to disturb the neighbours.
To become quiet and inconspicuous, or to keep one's presence unobserved (used in phrases like 'to keep a low profile').
彼は問題が起きると姿を潜める傾向がある。
He tends to keep a low profile when problems arise.
あの犬は普段は大人しいが、外では身を潜めていることが多い。
That dog is usually quiet, but often keeps itself hidden outdoors.
景気が悪くなると、新規参入者は市場で存在を潜めることが多い。
When the economy worsens, new entrants often keep a low profile in the market.