[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sneak/)

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# sneak

verb (sneak, sneaks, sneaked/snuck, sneaking); noun (a sneak, sneaks); adjective (sneak — a sneak peek)

«sneak» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To sneak is to go somewhere quietly and secretly so nobody sees or hears you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#m1)
2. To sneak something is to take or do it secretly: «sneak a biscuit». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#m2)
3. A sneak is a person who does things secretly or tells tales on others (UK, informal). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories characters sneak past guards or sneak downstairs at night. In lessons about honesty, sneaking things is a kind of trick or lie. Phrases: «sneak in», «sneak out», «sneak up on», «sneak a look», «a sneak peek», «sneak attack».

### Examples

- We sneaked into the kitchen for a midnight snack. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x1)
- The cat sneaked up on the bird. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x2)
- He tried to sneak a look at my answers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x3)
- Don't sneak out without telling your parents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x4)
- Here's a sneak peek of the new book! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x5)
- She snuck a sweet into her pocket. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x6)
- Now, one day Edmund made a new lantern out of something chemical that he sneaked from the school laboratory. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/#x7)

### Note

Past: «sneaked» (standard, UK and US) or «snuck» (common in the US, informal). Adjective: «sneaky». «Sneakers» (US) are trainers — soft shoes you can move quietly in.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sneak» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sneak/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sneak» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sneak.html) on Mova free.