spy

[ spahy ]

/ spaɪ /

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See synonyms for: spy / spied / spies / spying on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural spies.

a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, especially with reference to military or naval affairs.

a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.

a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, especially one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor: an industrial spy.

the act of spying.

verb (used without object), spied, spy·ing.

to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often followed by on or upon).

to act as a spy; engage in espionage.

to be on the lookout; keep watch.

to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object), spied, spy·ing.

to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry: to spy a rare bird overhead.

to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often followed by out).

to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.

to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of spy

1200–50; (v.) Middle English spien, aphetic variant of espien to espy; (noun) Middle English, aphetic variant of espy a spy <Old French espie

OTHER WORDS FROM spy

spyship, nounoutspy, verb (used with object), out·spied, out·spy·ing.su·per·spy, noun, plural su·per·spies.un·spied, adjective

un·spy·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spy in a sentence

Have you ever heard any feedback from the CIA/actual spies on Archer?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
American spies have detailed dossiers on the North Koreans who the U.S. says were behind the Sony attack.
U.S. Spies Say They Tracked ‘Sony Hackers’ For Years|Shane Harris|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The U.S. got a relatively good deal—three Cuban spies were returned to their country in the swap.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Gross and an unnamed American intelligence agent were freed Wednesday in exchange for three Cuban spies.
Cuba Protects America’s Most Wanted|Michael Daly|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And there came news that the king was in some gambling house with a troupe of that archfiend's spies.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
Spies everywhere will make out that I had a hand in the business, and all my work will be in vain.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back, and brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The curates in many cases became mere spies and Government informers.
Hunted and Harried|R.M. Ballantyne
"Here we can speak without fear; there are no traitors or spies here," said Chaudieu, looking at the two as yet unnamed men.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for spy

spy

/ (spaɪ) /

noun plural spies

a person employed by a state or institution to obtain secret information from rival countries, organizations, companies, etc

a person who keeps secret watch on others

obsolete a close view

verb spies, spying or spied

(intr usually foll by on) to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)

(intr) to engage in espionage

(tr) to catch sight of; descry

Word Origin for spy

C13 spien, from Old French espier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German spehōn, Middle Dutch spien

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012