furtively
Americanadverb
-
in a surreptitious, secret, or stealthy way.
For decades, people living under Soviet censorship listened furtively to the news from the free world beamed by Radio Free Europe or the Voice of America.
Moonshine is untaxed liquor, furtively produced by the light of the moon—or at least out of the immediate reach of law enforcement.
-
in a sly or shifty way.
In the next scene, he darts furtively into a pharmacy storeroom to steal poison.
Etymology
Origin of furtively
First recorded in 1490–1500; furtive ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
The adverb furtively is great for describing the movements or behavior of someone who's being sneaky or sly. Kids decorating their neighbor's trees with toilet paper on Halloween tend to sneak furtively around the yard. If you do something furtively, you don't want anyone to notice you; you're keeping a low profile. Usually, a person acting furtively feels guilty, or knows they're in danger of getting in trouble or being embarrassed. Furtively comes from the Latin word for "theft," fur. You can think of furtively as meaning "acting like a thief." Even though not everyone who behaves furtively is a thief, you might think they are, seeing them sneak away.
Vocabulary lists containing furtively
A Raisin in the Sun
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The Handmaid's Tale
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Born a Crime
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
UVALDE, Texas — Furtively, speaking in a whisper, a fourth-grade girl dialed the police.
From New York Times • May 27, 2022
Furtively the delegates studied their watches as tall, purposeful Rapporteur Madame C. A. Clyver droned her way through report after report.
From Time Magazine Archive
Furtively, the three would perform in community halls in black townships, ready to escape through a back door should police arrive.
From Time Magazine Archive
Furtively clinging to its pets, the Dachshund Club changed its name to "The Badger Dog Club."
From Time Magazine Archive
Furtively, Anya checked the road behind her and across the bridge on the other side.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
