lurked; lurking; lurks

intransitive verb

1
a
: to lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose
someone out there lurking in the shadows
b
: to move furtively or inconspicuously
shall I lurk about this country like a thief?Henry Fielding
c
: to persist in staying
the excitement of the first act still lurking in the airRichard Fletcher
Something about the smile lurking on Malfoy's face during the next week made Harry, Ron, and Hermione very nervous.J. K. Rowling
2
a
: to be concealed but capable of being discovered
specifically : to constitute a latent threat
What evil lurks in the hearts of men?
b
: to lie hidden
Malaria lurked in the marshes.
3
: to read messages without contributing on an Internet discussion forum (see forum sense 1c) (such as a newsgroup or chat room) or social media platform
You can tweet as much as you want or lurk without comment, though consistent tweeting and audience engagement are key to attracting and keeping followers.Charlotte Abbott
Choose the Right Synonym for lurk

lurk, skulk, slink, sneak mean to behave so as to escape attention.

lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

Examples of lurk in a Sentence

She could tell there was someone out there lurking in the shadows. we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner
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.
Players must navigate nightmarish mazes where monsters lurk at every turn. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025 The Triangle, one of many signature quirks of Fenway Park, lurks 420 feet from home plate. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 Take the quiz here … HIDDEN TRIGGER – 'Harmless' virus found lurking in Parkinson's patients' brains, new study shows. FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Gradually, more women are stepping into leadership roles, an impressive feat considering where women were just a few short decades ago and the persisting gender biases that still lurk in today’s workforce. Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lurk

Word History

Etymology

Middle English; akin to Middle High German lūren to lie in wait — more at lower

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lurk was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lurk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lurk. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

lurk

verb
1
a
: to stay in or about a place secretly
b
: to move quietly and secretly
2
: to lie concealed
especially : to be a hidden threat
lurker noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lurk

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