lurk

verb

ˈlərk 

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 air.

—Richard 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

Synonyms of lurk

• sneak
• slip

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

Surging Treasury yields have rattled Wall Street, but there may also be an opportunity lurking for income investors to turn a profit. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

For more than a century, astronomers have been captivated by the idea that an undiscovered planet could be lurking in the furthest reaches of our solar system. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Kostoulas is lurking in the right-hand side of the box, 15 yards out with his back to goal, as team-mate Pascal Gross wins a header (see image below). — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Clements sets the scene with lively pop music and excellent period-specific costuming, though darkness lurks beneath the funky 1970s groove. — Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for lurk

• berk
• birk
• cirque
• clerk
• dirk
• erk
• irk
• jerk
• kirk
• merc
• merch
• merk

Kids Definition

lurk

verb

ˈlərk 

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