sneak
sneak
Definition
sneak (snēk)
intransitive verb sneaked or ☆ Informalsnuck, sneak′·ing
- to move quietly and stealthily so as to avoid being seen or heard; go furtively
- to be a sneak; behave in a stealthy, underhanded, or cowardly manner
Etymology: prob. < OE *snecan, akin to snican, to crawl: for IE base see snail
transitive verb
to give, put, carry, take, etc. secretly or in a stealthy, sneaking manner
noun
- a person who sneaks; stealthy, underhanded, contemptible person
- an act of sneaking
- ☆ sneaker
adjective
without warning; stealthy a sneak attack
sneak out of
to avoid (duty, a task, etc.) by sneaking or stealth
sneak
Synonyms
sneak
Synonyms
sneak
v.
sneak
Usage Examples
Object
- peek: Rip the wrap to sneak a peek, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
- suspicion: I have a sneaking suspicion she would have been up for all three!
- admiration: THE LONG WALK June 1987 I've known even hardened republicans who have a sneaking admiration for the courage of the bomb squad.
- glance: Rowena slipped into her nightdress, and tried to sneak a glance at David to see if she had caught his attention.
- sympathy: I have always had a sneaking sympathy for the pig, so long as he can be bred to live as long as Socrates.
- feeling: I have a sneaking feeling that I might have an allergy to beer.
Preposition: past
- guard: Then, continue and sneak past the two guards ahead.
Modifies a noun
- preview: She'll also give you a sneak preview of the sequel too.
- peek: To take a sneak peek, click the link below.
- peak: Take a sneak peak at what might be going on beyond the final curtain.
- thief: Maybe the sneak thieves won't come at all.
- attack: May we never forget what happened when the Japanese launched an audacious sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Modifying Another Word
- backstage: Another good Hartford story referred to the first time he had snuck backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.
- quietly: Behind the desk is a walkway which will allow you to sneak quietly around the room without confrontation.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- through: Garner continued to battle bravely but Parke was always ahead and sneaked through to take up his Prince Grand Prix final berth.
- around: I had to sneak around all the barbed wire fencing.
- off: The boy had sneaked off on his bike without wearing a helmet.
- up: Did you ever try to sneak up on a fly?
- out: The same cannot be said for QinetiQ, who spent hours trying to find a way of sneaking out of the site.
Followed by a transitive particle
- around: The models in the shop window may beg to differ, but sneak around the back of.. .
Browse dictionary entries near sneak
- sneak out of
- sneak preview
- sneak thief
- sneaker
- SneakerNet
- sneakers
- Sneakers of 1992
- sneaking
- sneaky
- sneaky Pete
