secretly
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of secretly
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.
In February 1945 Hirohito began meeting secretly with his former prime ministers to poll them on whether to petition for peace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Separately, police officers are also allowed to secretly record conversations if they are “acting within the scope of his or her authority,” according to Seager.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Because they listened to so many songs secretly, she cannot recall titles.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Pegasus can be installed surreptitiously onto a target's smartphone and read messages, geolocate and secretly turn on the device's camera and microphone -- effectively turning the phone into a pocket spy.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
Bobby immediately left Belgrade—taking with him his second, Eugene Torre, and two bodyguards provided by Vasiljevic—and secretly traveled to the small town of Magyarkanizsa, in the northernmost reaches of Serbia, on the border with Hungary.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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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.