Definition

1. Verb:

   • To move or go in a quiet, stealthy, and secretive manner, often to avoid being seen or heard: The core meaning involves moving with caution and secrecy.
   • To do, take, or put something in a secretive or furtive way: This refers to performing an action stealthily.
   • To act as an informer, especially in a secretive or underhanded way: This is a specific, often negative, usage.

2. Noun:

   • A person who acts in a stealthy, underhanded, or secretive way: This describes someone whose behavior is characterized by sneaking.
   • A person who informs on others secretly; a telltale: This refers specifically to someone who gives information covertly, often to an authority.

3. Adjective:

   • Carried out secretly or stealthily: Describes an action performed in a sneaking manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • He tried to sneak past the sleeping guard. (He attempted to move past quietly and secretly.)
  • She sneaked a look at her phone during the meeting. (She took a secret, quick glance.)
  • I'm going to sneak out of the party early. (I plan to leave quietly without drawing attention.)

• Noun:

  • Don't be such a sneak! Tell me what you heard. (Don't be a secretive, underhanded person.)
  • He was labeled a sneak for telling the teacher. (He was called an informer.)

• Adjective:

  • They launched a sneak attack at dawn. (They carried out a secret, surprise attack.)

Advanced Usage

• "to sneak up on (someone/something)": to approach someone or something very quietly and stealthily, so as not to be noticed until the last moment.

  • The cat tried to sneak up on the bird.

• "sneak peek": a secret or early look at something before it is officially available or shown.

  • The magazine got a sneak peek at the new car model.

• "sneak thief": a thief who steals without using force, typically by entering through unlocked doors or windows.

  • The police warned residents about a sneak thief in the neighborhood.

Variants and Related Words

• Sneaky (adj): behaving in a secret and sometimes dishonest or unpleasant way.

  • That was a sneaky trick you played.

• Sneakers (n): soft-soled shoes designed for quiet movement or sports; tennis shoes.

  • He wore his sneakers to the gym.

Synonyms

• Verb: Slink, creep, steal, skulk.
• Noun: Informer, telltale, snitch (informal).
• Adjective: Furtive, stealthy, surreptitious, clandestine.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Sneak in/into: to enter a place quietly and secretly.

  • We managed to sneak into the concert without tickets.

• Sneak out: to leave a place quietly and secretly.

  • The children sneaked out after their parents went to sleep.

• Sneak off/away: to leave a place secretly.

  • He sneaked off before the meeting ended.

• Sneak past/by: to move past someone or something without being noticed.

  • Can we sneak past the security desk?

Related Idioms

• Sneak a win: to win in an unexpected or underhanded way.

  • The underdog team managed to sneak a win in the final seconds.

• On the sneak: acting in a secretive or furtive manner.

  • He's been going about on the sneak lately.

Adjective

1. marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
   • a furtive manner
   • a sneak attack
   • stealthy footsteps
   • a surreptitious glance at his watch

Noun

1. someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
2. someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
3. a person who is regarded as underhanded and furtive and contemptible

Verb

1. pass on stealthily
   • He slipped me the key when nobody was looking
2. make off with belongings of others
3. put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner
   • sneak a look
   • sneak a cigarette
4. to go stealthily or furtively
   • ..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house