snoop

1 of 2

verb

snooped; snooping; snoops

intransitive verb

: to look or pry especially in a sneaking or meddlesome manner
snooper noun

snoop

2 of 2

noun

: one that snoops

Examples of snoop in a Sentence

Verb She locks up her diary to keep her brother from snooping. Government agencies have been snooping on them for years. She doesn't want reporters snooping into her personal life. Noun No, I didn't read your e-mail. I'm no snoop. We had a snoop around their apartment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Nevertheless, parents should not spy on their kids or snoop through their phones in order to find out about minor situations like an argument with a friend. Denise Witmer, Parents, 29 July 2024 Spyware Users Exposed in Major Data Breach For the third time since 2010, spyware vendor mSpy has suffered a substantial data breach, this time exposing millions of customers and prospective users around the globe, many of whom appear to have used the software to snoop on others. Andrew Couts, WIRED, 13 July 2024
Noun
And a feature called Track Cleaner wipes away tracks and traces of your computer and internet use, to foil snoops. PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024 Scores of security guards keep the homeless, the snoops and the patent-stealers at bay, while the dealmakers pack into the cramped Westin St. Francis hotel and its surrounds to meet with cash-hungry executives from biotech and other health care companies. Molly Castle Work and Arthur Allen, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for snoop 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snoop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch snoepen to buy or eat on the sly; akin to Dutch snappen to snap

First Known Use

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snoop was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near snoop

Cite this Entry

“Snoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snoop. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

snoop

1 of 2 verb
: to look or search especially in a sneaking or meddlesome manner
snooper noun

snoop

2 of 2 noun
: one that snoops

More from Merriam-Webster on snoop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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