gumshoe

1 of 2

noun

gum·​shoe ˈgəm-ˌshü How to pronounce gumshoe (audio)
Synonyms of gumshoenext

gumshoe

2 of 2

verb

gumshoed; gumshoeing

intransitive verb

: to engage in detective work

Examples of gumshoe in a Sentence

Noun the couple paid a gumshoe to look for their missing son
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.
Noun
So Spider-Noir, the live-action Nic Cage superhero gumshoe series, doesn’t actually come out this weekend. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Cage plays Ben Reilly, a gumshoe struggling to remain afloat in New York City in the Great Depression. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 Armed with razor-sharp wit and instincts reminiscent of classic gumshoe detectives, Diamond navigates a contemporary noir world infused with old Hollywood sensibilities. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 19 May 2026 His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gumshoe

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1913, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gumshoe was in 1897

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Cite this Entry

“Gumshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gumshoe. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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