surveil

verb

sur·​veil sər-ˈvāl How to pronounce surveil (audio)
surveilled; surveilling

transitive verb

: to subject to surveillance

Examples of surveil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The latter film was controversial because in the real-world 1960s, the FBI was more likely to surveil, harass, and frame civil-rights activists than avenge them. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025 The platform is being used to surveil journalists and others, and report back to Beijing. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025 Canada has also committed fresh resources to patrol its border, including deploying two new Blackhawk helicopters and buying 60 U.S.-made drones to surveil the border. Ana Swanson, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 Amid the Los Angeles Uprising, the LAPD, INS, and other government agencies coordinated to surveil, seize, interrogate, and deport undocumented immigrants. V.n. Trinh / Made By History, TIME, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surveil

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from surveillance

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surveil was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surveil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surveil. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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