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
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Recent Examples of spied
McCann spied an errant pumpkin.
—
Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The relative then spied a dead dog on an interstate nearby, and assumed the canine was Randy since both dogs had the same shading.
—Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
Astronomers spied the bare black hole using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — a mega-instrument built by NASA and its partners in part to reveal how galaxies formed during the universe’s first billion years.
—Quanta Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
In concert with the premature switching off of sets, Bills fans were spied filing out of Highmark Stadium shortly after Henry seemingly put the game out of reach.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Within minutes my father spied Ernie Banks signing autographs at the wall.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The deportations – part of a program Iran announced in March – radically increased in the days after Iran’s conflict with Israel, fueled by unsubstantiated claims that Afghans had spied for Israel prior to and during the attacks.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
The Kremlin has spied a rapprochement with Washington as an opportunity not only for an economic recovery, but investment.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2025
Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The relative then spied a dead dog on an interstate nearby, and assumed the canine was Randy since both dogs had the same shading.
—Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
Astronomers spied the bare black hole using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — a mega-instrument built by NASA and its partners in part to reveal how galaxies formed during the universe’s first billion years.
—Quanta Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
In concert with the premature switching off of sets, Bills fans were spied filing out of Highmark Stadium shortly after Henry seemingly put the game out of reach.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Within minutes my father spied Ernie Banks signing autographs at the wall.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The deportations – part of a program Iran announced in March – radically increased in the days after Iran’s conflict with Israel, fueled by unsubstantiated claims that Afghans had spied for Israel prior to and during the attacks.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
The Kremlin has spied a rapprochement with Washington as an opportunity not only for an economic recovery, but investment.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spied
Verb
-
The couple first met in 2012 through a mutual friend and were spotted holding hands at the season launch party of Portlandia at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City in December 2012.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
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Bovino was spotted at 26th and Pulaski by DeMateo, the pastor, in the Little Village neighborhood where DHS and the Border Patrol chief originally claimed he was hit in the head with a rock by a protester.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But when testing the bespoke shots in animals, Grippin noticed that even the placebo shots — which contained mRNA entirely unrelated to the cancer — also activated the immune system to kill tumors.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
-
And it certainly can be noticed, both in its abundance, and in the case of the Warriors’ 129-104 shellacking on Friday night at the hands of the Nuggets in an Emirates Cup group stage matchup, in its absence.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The trees were cut down, sawed in half, hollowed out and tied back together for the musicians to use.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Fanatics shared the moment Tennessee Titans first overall pick, quarterback Cam Ward, saw Brady pop up on the screen to give him some wise words.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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People have eyed Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, as a possible successor, as well.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
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The film is expected to complete production later this fall, with a festival run eyed for 2026.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Vocational schools were regarded as an afterthought, a last-ditch option, offering vastly less prestige than traditional universities, particularly vaunted Ivy League institutions.—
Stephen Tave,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Japan has punched above its weight on the global cultural stage for generations, but Hollywood studios have long regarded the country as one of the world’s most challenging places to shoot.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spied. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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