surveil

verb

sur·​veil sər-ˈvāl 

surveilled; surveilling

transitive verb

: to subject to surveillance

Examples of surveil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet in the early years of the 21st century, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, FISA would be expanded and used to surveil the activities of millions of Americans without their knowledge. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026

Flock cameras have become the latest cultural flash point over the past several weeks as fears grow over their use to surveil the public. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026

Flock Safety, which operates a nationwide network of license-plate-reading cameras used by police to track vehicles, announced new safeguards after reports that officers misused the system to surveil people. — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

But reports of misuse by law enforcement, along with anxiety over the technology’s ability to surveil ordinary people, has led to protests and prompted some cities to end their contracts with the company. — New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from surveillance

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for surveil

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email