spy

American  

[spahy] / spaɪ /

noun

plural

spies

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

4. the act of spying.

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verb (used without object)

spied, spying

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

2. to act as a spy; engage in espionage.

3. to be on the lookout; keep watch.

4. to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object)

spied, spying

1. to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry.

   to spy a rare bird overhead.

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

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

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

spy British  

/ spaɪ /

noun

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

2. a person who keeps secret watch on others

3. obsolete a close view

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verb

1. to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)

2. (intr) to engage in espionage

3. (tr) to catch sight of; descry

Other Word Forms

• outspy verb (used with object)
• spyship noun
• superspy noun
• unspied adjective
• unspying adjective

Etymology

Origin of spy

First recorded in 1200–50; (for the verb) Middle English spien, shortened from espien, espyen “to espy” ( espy ); (for the noun) Middle English, shortened from espy “a spy,” from Old French espie

Example Sentences

Park has also worked extensively in television, notably the English-language mini-series "The Little Drummer Girl", adapted from John Le Carre's novel, and last year's HBO series "The Sympathizer" about a North Vietnamese spy.

From Barron's

Perched upon a wide oak table, among more strange items, Duane spied a snowy owl reading from a large open book.

From Literature

Looking around for a good whipping stick, I spied one about ten feet away and darted over to get it.

From Literature

Group annual revenue dropped 21 percent to £1.258 billion as car sales for the brand beloved by fictional British spy James Bond fell 10 percent to 5,448.

From Barron's

"What is ultimately required is full transparency, genuine legal accountability, and a decisive end to unlawful spying on the media," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• agent
• detective
• informer
• investigator
• mole
• operative
• secret agent
• secret service
• undercover agent