lurking

present participle of lurk
1
as in sneaking
to move about in a sly or secret manner we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lurking Finally, book eleven, Bernard Malmud’s The Fixer, was found lurking on a twelfth-grade syllabus. Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 To figure out why, an international team investigated the proteins lurking inside of the skeletal remains. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 June 2026 History tells us that no matter how carefully and cautiously Johnson and the Sedins intend to proceed with this rebuild, internal pressure from ownership to begin to show real progress is always lurking around the next corner. Thomas Drance, New York Times, 23 June 2026 On his Instagram, happy photos of his family living the American dream are interspersed with violent admonitions about the forces lurking in his own community and seeking to destroy him. Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 For Lestat, embracing the loneliness has an immediate reaction on the muses lurking in the crowds at his show. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 22 June 2026 Others see the Boston Celtics as a big threat to get him instead, and many other teams are still lurking in the hunt. Greg Cote june 19, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026 Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, The Boroughs followed a group of older misfits at a retirement community who become entangled in an otherworldly mystery lurking beneath them. Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026 The breakthrough points to a supermassive black hole lurking at the center of our galaxy. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
Verb
  • His one rule for guests is to chase whatever task is nagging at them, but to resist sneaking in actual work.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • As for oats, consider sneaking in some extra protein to round out their nutritional profile.
    Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Police officers responding to Leslie Martin’s call and separate reports of a break-in found Doug Martin hiding in a neighbor’s home.
    HANNAH FINGERHUT, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
  • The film is a modern take on the creature horror film told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature.
    Justin Kroll, Deadline, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • There’s even a side pocket perfect for slipping a water bottle into.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026
  • In my opinion, the perfect application is a shower, scrubbing your feet with an emery board of some kind, slipping on the booties, putting on socks, and parking yourself in front of Netflix for an hour before removing.
    Lauren Silbert, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Not to mention, oversized boxes take up a ton of space even when lying flat.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
  • Officers found McFarland lying dead in the parking lot.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd said Minnesota was considering selecting Duke wing Isaiah Evans with the 28th pick in this week’s NBA Draft, prior to the Wolves sliding back five selections due to the Julius Randle trade.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 June 2026
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on lurking

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster