spy
a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, especially with reference to military or naval affairs.
a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.
a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, especially one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor: an industrial spy.
the act of spying.
to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often followed by on or upon).
to act as a spy; engage in espionage.
to be on the lookout; keep watch.
to search for or examine something closely or carefully.
to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry: to spy a rare bird overhead.
to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often followed by out).
to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.
to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.
Origin of spy
1Other words from spy
- spyship, noun
- outspy, verb (used with object), out·spied, out·spy·ing.
- su·per·spy, noun, plural su·per·spies.
- un·spied, adjective
- un·spy·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use spy in a sentence
I knew that my opportunity would come wherein to spy upon the mind of the enemy.
Mrs. Falchion, Complete | Gilbert ParkerTremerello had insinuated a vile suspicion respecting Angiola; that, in short, she was a spy upon my secret opinions!
My Ten Years' Imprisonment | Silvio PellicoIt may be he meant nothing, but I fear he took Inez along merely to hide the fact that he was playing the spy upon us.
Adrift on the Pacific | Edward S. EllisThese Beauforts, associated in his thoughts with every evil omen and augury, had they set a spy upon his movements?
Night and Morning, Complete | Edward Bulwer-LyttonI'm hanged if I don't think you have the confounded vanity to suppose she sets me as a spy upon you!
Rhoda Fleming, Complete | George Meredith
British Dictionary definitions for spy
/ (spaɪ) /
a person employed by a state or institution to obtain secret information from rival countries, organizations, companies, etc
a person who keeps secret watch on others
obsolete a close view
(intr usually foll by on) to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)
(intr) to engage in espionage
(tr) to catch sight of; descry
Origin of spy
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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