spied; spying
1
: to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes
2
: to catch sight of : see
3
: to search or look for intensively
—usually used with out
spy out places fit for vending … goods—
S. E. Morison
S. E. Morison
plural spies
1
: one that spies:
a
: one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information
b
: a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation
also
: a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another
2
: an act of spying
Synonyms
Examples of spy in a Sentence
Verb
They were accused of spying for a foreign government.
I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there.
Noun
He was a spy for the CIA.
My coworker is a spy for the boss.
Recent Examples on the WebTodd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Here guests will spy a hanging monkey, trying to manipulate a timer that is designed to release food.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
From the water, Rowan spied a charming dockside emporium that looked ideal.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2023
Multiple lawmakers argued that the spying allegations should support a harder line against China.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023
That legislation expands the list of activities that could be considered spying, intensifying the risks for foreign firms.
—Time, 21 Aug. 2023
Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, was raised within the militant group but later turned against it and spied for the Israeli Shin Bet.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2023
Complex female relationships remain at the core of the show, with Johanna forced to join forces with a spying countess who quickly spots her potential (Jeanette Hain).
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Oct. 2023
And he was accused of trying to spy for a hostile state, identified by the BBC as Iran.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023
Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 Nov. 2023
Relations, however, had hardly stabilized when the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon in February, plunging diplomatic relations to another low.
—Byaamer Madhani, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2023
In February, after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed North America, the Pentagon said that the secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, was unable to reach his Chinese counterpart via a special hotline.
—WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023
The career diplomat turned spy chief is expected to meet with intelligence counterparts and other officials for discussions on the Gaza conflict, including preventing its spread, and to facilitate hostage negotiations that appear to have stalled in recent weeks.
—Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023
The film plays like a spy thriller with the discovery of secret files on the family, covert surveillance of a suspect, and the heated delivery of accusations and denunciations.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023
Perry, 39, is a former prosecutor and CIA officer often likened to Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who also worked in a covert capacity for the spy agency.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
Several years later, the FBI and U.S. Army investigated complaints from four women who said Knight groped them or touched them inappropriately during a visit to a U.S. spy agency in 2015.
—Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to support Palestinians and could be considering selling weapons to militant groups in the Middle East, according to South Korea's spy agency.
—Dasl Yoon, WSJ, 1 Nov. 2023
See More
Verb
We’re told to watch for fire ants, will spy tiny hopping frogs and many tree branches contain some sort of colorful pet.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Here guests will spy a hanging monkey, trying to manipulate a timer that is designed to release food.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
From the water, Rowan spied a charming dockside emporium that looked ideal.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2023
Multiple lawmakers argued that the spying allegations should support a harder line against China.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023
That legislation expands the list of activities that could be considered spying, intensifying the risks for foreign firms.
—Time, 21 Aug. 2023
Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, was raised within the militant group but later turned against it and spied for the Israeli Shin Bet.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2023
Complex female relationships remain at the core of the show, with Johanna forced to join forces with a spying countess who quickly spots her potential (Jeanette Hain).
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Oct. 2023
And he was accused of trying to spy for a hostile state, identified by the BBC as Iran.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023
Noun
Glover also stars alongside Maya Erskine in the series, in which two lonely strangers go undercover as a married couple working for a mysterious spy agency—then, inevitably, fall in love for real.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 Nov. 2023
Relations, however, had hardly stabilized when the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon in February, plunging diplomatic relations to another low.
—Byaamer Madhani, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2023
In February, after the US shot down a Chinese spy balloon that had crossed North America, the Pentagon said that the secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, was unable to reach his Chinese counterpart via a special hotline.
—WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023
The career diplomat turned spy chief is expected to meet with intelligence counterparts and other officials for discussions on the Gaza conflict, including preventing its spread, and to facilitate hostage negotiations that appear to have stalled in recent weeks.
—Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2023
The film plays like a spy thriller with the discovery of secret files on the family, covert surveillance of a suspect, and the heated delivery of accusations and denunciations.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023
Perry, 39, is a former prosecutor and CIA officer often likened to Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who also worked in a covert capacity for the spy agency.
—Teo Armus, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
Several years later, the FBI and U.S. Army investigated complaints from four women who said Knight groped them or touched them inappropriately during a visit to a U.S. spy agency in 2015.
—Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to support Palestinians and could be considering selling weapons to militant groups in the Middle East, according to South Korea's spy agency.
—Dasl Yoon, WSJ, 1 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English spien, from Anglo-French espier, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy; akin to Latin specere to look, look at, Greek skeptesthai & skopein to watch, look at, consider
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of spy was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing spy
Dictionary Entries Near spy
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spy. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
spy
2 of 2 noun
plural spies
1
: one that watches the movement or actions of others especially in secret
2
: a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
More from Merriam-Webster on spy
Nglish: Translation of spy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of spy for Arabic Speakers
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