Synonyms of spied

spied

verb

past tense of spy

as in spotted

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes

I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spotted
• noticed
• saw
• eyed
• regarded
• remarked
• viewed
• espied
• beheld
• watched
• noted
• observed
• looked (at)
• sighted
• caught
• witnessed
• discerned
• perceived
• distinguished
• descried
• identified
• laid eyes on
• set eyes on
• got a load of
• considered
• scanned
• marked
• picked out
• studied
• surveyed
• attended (to)
• inspected
• examined
• glimpsed
• made out
• scrutinized
• heeded
• glanced (at)
• picked up
• peered (at)
• minded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignored
• neglected
• disregarded
• passed over
• missed
• overlooked
• overpassed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spied

The tourists, having sent home seven players and their coaching staff mid-series, made four changes but really only spied solace in the performance of Razaullah Khan, one of three debutants. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

To the north of the fire, between a forest and a small dirt road, Olstead spied a green field—the jump spot. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Satellite imagery has already spied an area of rising seas expanding north from South and Central America to California’s Baja Peninsula, with a northward expansion expected from there. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Next, astronomers spied several exoplanets that are gas giants like Jupiter—but in orbits so tight that these worlds practically skim the surfaces of their stars. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026

In the distance, the two ― both staffers of nondenominational Christian organization Cru ― spied a female avatar standing alone in the virtual hallway and decided to strike up a chat. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 July 2026

Julius, along with Ruth and David Greenglass, had spied for the Soviet Union. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Glimmers of this optimism could be spied in the FOMC’s statement, issued ahead of Warsh’s press conference. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2026

There, golden bamboo is freshly planted, new curvilinear furniture is featured, high tea is served and Mount Fuji can be spied in the jaw-dropping panoramas on clear days. — Carrie Bell, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026