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

At a press conference yesterday NASA presented its preliminary findings, which touch on everything from the moon’s surprisingly colorful craters to a series of curious flashes that the astronauts spied in lunar shadows. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026

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

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