snoop

[snoop]

verb (used without object)

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

noun

1. an act or instance of snooping.

2. a person who snoops.

3. a private detective.

snoop

/ snuːp /

verb

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of snoop¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of snoop¹

C19: from Dutch snoepen to eat furtively

Example Sentences

“Miss Lumley. Your snooping or mail delivering or whatever it was seems to have been a bit of bad luck, for both of us. Now my little secret is out.”

Read more on Literature

I went snooping around to find out what they were up to.

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Isn’t the whole uproar over Mr. Smith’s snooping on senators’ phone records a “tempest and teapot” given he had to follow rules?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There is something about a healthy personality that feels repelled by a snoop or a snitch.

Read more on Salon

One member warned that state officials would snoop around their rural properties to tell owners what to do.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• intrude 
• peep