spied; spying
1
: to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes
2
: to catch sight of : see
3
: to search or look for intensively
—usually used with out
spy out places fit for vending … goods—
S. E. Morison
S. E. Morison
plural spies
1
: one that spies:
a
: one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information
b
: a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation
also
: a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another
2
: an act of spying
Synonyms
Examples of spy in a Sentence
Verb
They were accused of spying for a foreign government.
I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there.
Noun
He was a spy for the CIA.
My coworker is a spy for the boss.
Recent Examples on the WebMelissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
This isn't the first time they've been spied engaging in a little PDA, either.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
The setback came just hours after Mr. Trump added his powerful voice of opposition to a sizable contingent of right-wing lawmakers who have clamored for a more sweeping FISA overhaul that would severely limit the government’s spying powers.
—Charlie Savage, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
His brother was recently released from prison; he was accused of spying for Hamas and involvement in a possible plan for an attack, allegations his family strongly denies.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Then Bissell spied five young clerks standing at attention, with lit torches on long poles, wearing … shimmering black capes?
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
Across the universe Astronomers have spied two streams of ancient stars that likely helped build the Milky Way galaxy billions of years ago.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
But to meet his destiny as a fur-trapping legend, Jean must contend with a wily beaver population — often spied in teams of two, carting logs toward a mysterious location — who harbor their own plans for survival-of-the-fittest domination.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Read more WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange starts final battle to avoid US trial
Tuesday culminates a fight against extradition for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as his lawyers attempt a final U.K. legal challenge to avoid being sent to the United States to face spying charges.
—USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Sleeper-cell spies are trained to live under cover in another country and act as a potential asset on short notice.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
In the movie, the fictional watch has a unique feature that allows Bond to print messages received from other spies.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
People sat on plastic stools around plastic tables, leaning in close to avoid military intelligence spies who might be listening in.
—Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
If the algorithms are serving you cute kittens, or like very soothing ASMR, or maybe your next favorite spy thriller, what’s your take after looking into them so deeply?
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
The prolific team behind Amazon’s high-profile spy series Citadel and showrunners on Netflix’s adaptation of Cowboy Bebop have been tapped to write Disney’s live-action adaptation of Space Mountain.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
Ukraine has long warned that Russian spies were active across Europe and working to sabotage its defense against Russia's invasion, in particular in Germany.
—Carlo Angerer, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The actors portraying these spies — Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and more — are also more than up to the task.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
Several public libraries in the greater Los Angeles area are also hosting viewing parties where sky watchers can make pinhole cameras, spy the sky through solar telescopes, pick up viewing glasses, and learn about eclipses.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
This isn't the first time they've been spied engaging in a little PDA, either.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
The setback came just hours after Mr. Trump added his powerful voice of opposition to a sizable contingent of right-wing lawmakers who have clamored for a more sweeping FISA overhaul that would severely limit the government’s spying powers.
—Charlie Savage, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
His brother was recently released from prison; he was accused of spying for Hamas and involvement in a possible plan for an attack, allegations his family strongly denies.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024
Then Bissell spied five young clerks standing at attention, with lit torches on long poles, wearing … shimmering black capes?
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
Across the universe Astronomers have spied two streams of ancient stars that likely helped build the Milky Way galaxy billions of years ago.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
But to meet his destiny as a fur-trapping legend, Jean must contend with a wily beaver population — often spied in teams of two, carting logs toward a mysterious location — who harbor their own plans for survival-of-the-fittest domination.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Read more WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange starts final battle to avoid US trial
Tuesday culminates a fight against extradition for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as his lawyers attempt a final U.K. legal challenge to avoid being sent to the United States to face spying charges.
—USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
Stevenson then revealed poster-sized photographs taken by a high-altitude U-2 spy plane, images that showed Soviet missile bases in Cuba and directly contradicted Moscow’s denials.
—David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Sleeper-cell spies are trained to live under cover in another country and act as a potential asset on short notice.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
In the movie, the fictional watch has a unique feature that allows Bond to print messages received from other spies.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024
People sat on plastic stools around plastic tables, leaning in close to avoid military intelligence spies who might be listening in.
—Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
If the algorithms are serving you cute kittens, or like very soothing ASMR, or maybe your next favorite spy thriller, what’s your take after looking into them so deeply?
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
The prolific team behind Amazon’s high-profile spy series Citadel and showrunners on Netflix’s adaptation of Cowboy Bebop have been tapped to write Disney’s live-action adaptation of Space Mountain.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
Ukraine has long warned that Russian spies were active across Europe and working to sabotage its defense against Russia's invasion, in particular in Germany.
—Carlo Angerer, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
The actors portraying these spies — Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and more — are also more than up to the task.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spy
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spy. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spy
2 of 2 noun
plural spies
1
: one that watches the movement or actions of others especially in secret
2
: a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
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