sneak

The word “sneak” means to move quietly and carefully so as not to be noticed. In plain terms, moving or acting secretly so nobody notices, often to avoid getting caught.

“Sneak” is pronounced sneek (/sniːk/ in IPA).

Here is “sneak” used in a sentence: “He tried to sneak past the guard without making a sound.”

Words with a similar meaning to “sneak” include creep, hake, scunge, shug, skulk and slink.

Depending on how it is used, “sneak” can be a verb and an adjective.

The word “sneak” comes from Old English. From Old English snīcan ("to creep"), related to the word "snake" — both describe low, quiet movement.

“Sneak” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Sneak” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move quietly and carefully so as not to be noticed.

Both are accepted past tenses of sneak. Sneaked is the traditional regular form, while snuck arose in American English and is now standard in North American usage. In formal British writing, sneaked remains the safer choice.

The correct spelling is sneak peek, because a peek is a quick look, while a peak is the top of a mountain. A sneak peek is an early look at something, such as a film or product, before its official release; "sneak peak" is a very common misspelling.

Both verbs describe moving quietly, but sneak emphasises deliberately avoiding being noticed, often because you are doing something you should not. Creep emphasises slow, cautious movement and can simply describe how something moves, without any suggestion of wrongdoing.