spy

/spaɪ/
verb
  1. To secretly collect information about someone or something, especially for a government or organization.
    • The agent was trained to spy on foreign embassies.
    • She was accused of spying for a rival company.
    • They used drones to spy on the enemy camp.
  2. To watch someone or something secretly and closely.
    • The detective spied on the suspect from a parked car.
    • My little brother likes to spy on me when I'm on the phone.
    • Birds spied on the cat from a high branch.
  3. To see or notice something, especially from a distance or with difficulty.
    • She spied her friend in the crowded market.
    • From the hilltop, we could spy a village in the valley.
    • The sailor spied land on the horizon.
noun
  1. A person who secretly collects information about an enemy, competitor, or other group.
    • The government caught a spy trying to steal military secrets.
    • She worked as a spy for her country during the war.
    • In the movie, the spy used a hidden camera to photograph the documents.
  2. A person who watches others secretly, often to report on their activities.
    • Neighbors suspected he was a spy for the landlord, reporting any noise complaints.
    • The kids thought the new student was a spy for the principal.
    • The office spy told the boss about everyone's lunch breaks.
Synonyms