verb / adjective / noun

sneak

SNEEK/sniːk/

To act secretly to avoid notice.

The woman sneaks behind the armchair toward the doorway while the reader remains unaware.

A woman tiptoes behind an occupied armchair toward an open doorway, glancing back at its unaware reader.

Etymology

Sneak may continue a dialectal survival of Middle English sniken, “to creep or crawl.” If so, creeping movement connects the older verb with moving stealthily to avoid notice.

In context

Real Science6:57

camouflage to look like sand so that they can sneak up on tiny shrimp crabs and fish this camouflage helps them avoid detection while hunting

The Insane Biology of: The Cuttlefish

More examples

She sneaks a cookie before dinner.
We get a sneak preview of the new exhibit.
He's such a sneak, reading my messages behind my back.

Forms

sneak · sneaks · sneaked · snuck · sneaking

sneaky adjective — Acting secretly, often to deceive others.

sneakily adverb — In a secretive or deceptive way.

Similar words

creep: Emphasizes slow, careful movement, not necessarily an attempt to hide.
slip: Emphasizes entering or leaving quietly without attracting attention.