- present participle of sneak.
sneaking
Americanadjective
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acting in a furtive or underhand way.
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deceitfully underhand, as actions; contemptible.
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secret; not generally avowed, as a feeling, notion, suspicion, etc.
adjective
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acting in a furtive or cowardly way
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secret
a sneaking desire to marry a millionaire
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slight but nagging (esp in the phrase a sneaking suspicion )
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sneaking
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.
The 52-metre long rocket has caused a stir among locals, with some "sneaking out" of work for a glimpse, and others preparing their boats for a closer look at the debris.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
While other children were reaching for fruit snacks, I was sneaking handfuls of Castelvetranos from the appetizer tray.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
Suddenly there’s interest from a yes-chef-centric prestige drama called “The Boar,” as well as the return of an old eating disorder that has our heroine sneaking off to the bathroom, in danger of toppling everything.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
However, she was stopped in her tracks when her mom asked, “Where are you going miss? Are you sneaking out?”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
What if Mrs. Krajewska is looking out her window, like she always does, and sees the man who was supposed to be my brother sneaking like a thief into my house?
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
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.
