surveil

verb

sur·​veil sər-ˈvāl How to pronounce surveil (audio)
surveilled; surveilling

transitive verb

: to subject to surveillance

Examples of surveil in a Sentence

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.
In the weeks leading up to the APEC summit, the suspects allegedly had the two people surveil the victim, install a tracking device on his car as well as slash the car’s tires. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025 The nation has a contract to launch a total of five satellites with SpaceX. Once its five-satellite constellation is complete, the South Korean military will be able to surveil its neighbor to the north every two hours, Yonhap News reports. Brett Tingley, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Over the past decade, the company has also built a lucrative side business of digital tools — including ankle monitors, smart watches and tracking apps — to surveil immigrants on behalf of the federal government. Paul Mozur, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 The occupants are all herded into a room and instructed to remain quiet while the soldiers set up positions from which to surveil the surrounding streets, connected by a busy open-air marketplace. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surveil

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from surveillance

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surveil was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surveil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surveil. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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