Main Entry: ¹sneak

Pronunciation: \ˈsnēk\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sneaked \ˈsnēkt\ or snuck \ˈsnək\; sneak·ing

Etymology: akin to Old English snīcan to sneak along, Old Norse snīkja

Date: 1594

intransitive verb 1 : to go stealthily or furtively : slink <snuck out early>
2 : to act in or as if in a furtive manner
3 : to carry the football on a quarterback sneaktransitive verb : to put, bring, or take in a furtive or artful manner <sneak a smoke>

synonyms see lurk

— sneak up on : to approach or act on stealthily

usage From its earliest appearance in print in the late 19th century as a dialectal and probably uneducated form, the past and past participle snuck has risen to the status of standard and to approximate equality with sneaked. It is most common in the United States and Canada but has also been spotted in British and Australian English.