sneaking

American

[snee-king] / ˈsni kɪŋ /

adjective

acting in a furtive or underhand way.
deceitfully underhand, as actions; contemptible.
secret; not generally avowed, as a feeling, notion, suspicion, etc.

sneaking British

/ ˈsniːkɪŋ /

adjective

acting in a furtive or cowardly way
secret

a sneaking desire to marry a millionaire
slight but nagging (esp in the phrase a sneaking suspicion )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of sneaking

First recorded in 1575–85; sneak + -ing ²

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.

Sneaking away from official business in Washington D.C.,

From Salon • May 16, 2024

Sneaking in and out of Biafra, he located the first planes and hired the first pilots.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2023

Sneaking over Serbia’s northern border often takes months because Hungary has put up two rows of barbed wire fence and deployed heavy security.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2022

As far as grandchildren go, the star said he hopes "to be the mischievous grandfather. Sneaking them a little candy when they're not supposed to have it."

From Fox News • Jan. 28, 2021

"Sneaking out to see your girlfriend? Bloody Mary?"

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023