Spy

/spaɪ/ · noun

Meaning

A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage)..

Definitions by Sense

1. A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
2. (American football) A defensive player assigned to cover an offensive backfield player man-to-man when they are expected to engage in a running play, but the offensive player does not run with the ball immediately.
3. (intransitive) To act as a spy.
4. (transitive) To spot; to catch sight of; to espy.
5. (intransitive) To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
6. (transitive) To explore; to see; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.

Example Sentences

The dead leap at the throat, destroy The meaning of the day; dark forms Have scaled your walls, and spies betray Old secrets to amorphous swarms.

Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.

During the Cold War, Russia and America would each spy on each other for recon.

I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.

VVherefore lift up your heads, brethren, and look about vvith your eyes, ſpy vvhat things are to be reformed in the Church of England.

One in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.

Child, I see thee! Child, I spy thee!

The next person they spied was a Bandicoot carrying a watermelon.

Synonyms for spy

Antonyms for spy

Related Words

Word Forms

• spies
• spying
• spied

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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