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sneak Definition

sneak (snēk)

intransitive verb sneaked or Informalsnuck, sneak·ing

  1. to move quietly and stealthily so as to avoid being seen or heard; go furtively
  2. 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

  1. a person who sneaks; stealthy, underhanded, contemptible person
  2. an act of sneaking
  3. sneaker

adjective

without warning; stealthy a sneak attack

sneak Idioms

sneak out of

to avoid (duty, a task, etc.) by sneaking or stealth

sneak Synonyms

sneak

n.

cheater, confidence man, underhanded or unreliable person; see cheat 1, rascal.

sneak Synonyms

sneak

v.

skulk, slink, creep, slip away, move secretly, steal, hide, move under cover, ambush oneself, prowl, lurk, secrete oneself, cheat, delude, deceive, soft heel away*, gumshoe*, ooze off*; see also evade 1.

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

  1. SNCC
  2. snazzy
  3. snath
  4. snatchy
  5. snatch block
  6. snatch
  7. snarly
  8. snarl
  9. snarky
  10. snark
  1. sneak out of
  2. sneak preview
  3. sneak thief
  4. sneaker
  5. SneakerNet
  6. sneakers
  7. Sneakers of 1992
  8. sneaking
  9. sneaky
  10. sneaky Pete