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.
Fly-tipping was also a problem, she explained, with vans pulling up and "furtively unloading" rubbish on to nearby grassland.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
The mood: “Don’t look at me,” as they look around furtively, still waking up.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
No one who watched is likely to forget Rubio’s awkward stare as he furtively reached for a water bottle, cementing his reputation as the thirstiest man in the U.S.
From Salon • Oct. 23, 2025
What’s not taught is that it hurts, as if a little creature is furtively rubbing your vocal cords with sandpaper.
From Slate • Nov. 26, 2023
All the way there, I cast my eyes about furtively, wondering if Falconer would return to find me.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
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.
