snoop

American  

[snoop] / snup /

verb (used without object)

1. to prowl or pry; go about in a sneaking, prying way.

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noun

1. an act or instance of snooping.

2. a person who snoops.

3. a private detective.

snoop British  

/ snuːp /

verb

1. (intr; often foll by about or around) to pry into the private business of others

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noun

1. a person who pries into the business of others

2. an act or instance of snooping

Other Word Forms

• snooper noun
• snoopy adjective

Etymology

Origin of snoop

1825–35, < Dutch snoepen to take and eat food on the sly

Example Sentences

He can be paranoid, but she snoops around a lot.

From Los Angeles Times

If they were snooping in his room, he was going to be really angry.

From Literature

I shouldn’t snoop, but Aunt Melissa did ask me to get the mail.

From Literature

“I offered to help. I’m supposed to be organizing and repacking everything, but I guess what I’m doing mostly is snooping.”

From Literature

Instead, I decided to snoop through all of his personal belongings in our room.

From Literature

Related Words

• intrude
• peep