sneak — to move quietly and secretly so as not to be seen or heard
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to move quietly and secretly so as not to be seen or heard
Pronunciation (IPA): /sniːk/
Example Sentences
- My cat likes to sneak up on my feet and attack them.
- I tried to sneak extra chocolate into my shopping cart, but my mom caught me.
- The students sneaked out of class to avoid the surprise test.
sneak
VERB[/sniːk/]
to move quietly and secretly so as not to be seen or heard
He tries to sneak a cookie from the jar while mom isn't looking.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Sneak originated in mid-16th century English, likely derived from Old Norse snīkja, meaning 'to creep' or 'to crawl'. The word originally conveyed the sense of moving stealthily or secretively.
Breakdown
Old Norse snīkja (to creep, to crawl) → Middle English sneak (to move secretly or stealthily). The root carries the notion of furtive movement, with the -k sound preserved in the English form.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat likes to sneak up on my feet and attack them.”
“I tried to sneak extra chocolate into my shopping cart, but my mom caught me.”
“The students sneaked out of class to avoid the surprise test.”
“She gave me a sneak preview of her wedding dress.”
📚Related Words
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