sneak Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a person who is regarded as underhanded and furtive and contemptible
noun someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
prowler; stalker.
noun someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
sneaker; stool pigeon; canary; stoolpigeon; fink; stoolie; snitch; snitcher.
verb to go stealthily or furtively
pussyfoot; mouse; creep.
- ..stead of sneaking around spying on the neighbor's house
verb put, bring, or take in a secretive or furtive manner
- sneak a look
- sneak a cigarette
verb make off with belongings of others
pilfer; filch; pinch; abstract; swipe; purloin; hook; lift; snarf; cabbage; nobble.
verb pass on stealthily
slip.
- He slipped me the key when nobody was looking
adjective satellite marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
furtive; surreptitious; stealthy; sneaky.
- a furtive manner
- a sneak attack
- stealthy footsteps
- a surreptitious glance at his watch

OE. sniken, AS. snican to creep; akin to Dan. snige sig; cf. Icel. snikja to hanker after.

imperfect & past participle Sneaked ; present participle & verbal noun Sneaking

To creep or steal (away or about) privately; to come or go meanly, as a person afraid or ashamed to be seen; as, to sneak away from company. imp. & p. p. "snuck" is more common now, but not even mentioned here. In MW10, simply "sneaked or snuck"
You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. Dryden.
To act in a stealthy and cowardly manner; to behave with meanness and servility; to crouch.

To hide, esp. in a mean or cowardly manner. Obs. "[Slander] sneaks its head." Wake.

A mean, sneaking fellow.
A set of simpletons and superstitious sneaks. Glanvill.
(Cricket) A ball bowled so as to roll along the ground; -- called also grub. Cant R. A. Proctor.