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sneak definition

sneak (snēk)

intransitive verb sneaked or ☆ Informalsnuck, sneaking sneak′·ing

  1. to move quietly and stealthily so as to avoid being seen or heard; go furtively
  2. to be a sneak; behave in a stealthy, underhanded, or cowardly manner

Etymology: prob. < OE *snecan, akin to snican, to crawl: for IE base see snail

transitive verb

to give, put, carry, take, etc. secretly or in a stealthy, sneaking manner

noun

  1. a person who sneaks; stealthy, underhanded, contemptible person
  2. an act of sneaking
  3. ☆ sneaker

adjective

without warning; stealthy a sneak attack
sneak Idioms

sneak out of

to avoid (duty, a task, etc.) by sneaking or stealth

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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