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View synonyms for

spy

[ spahy ]

noun

plural spies.
  1. a person employed by a government to obtain secret information or intelligence about another, usually hostile, country, especially with reference to military or naval affairs.
  2. a person who keeps close and secret watch on the actions and words of another or others.
  3. a person who seeks to obtain confidential information about the activities, plans, methods, etc., of an organization or person, especially one who is employed for this purpose by a competitor:

    an industrial spy.

  4. the act of spying.


verb (used without object)

spied, spying.
  1. to observe secretively or furtively with hostile intent (often followed by on or upon ).
  2. to act as a spy; engage in espionage.
  3. to be on the lookout; keep watch.
  4. to search for or examine something closely or carefully.

verb (used with object)

spied, spying.
  1. to catch sight of suddenly; espy; descry:

    to spy a rare bird overhead.

  2. to discover or find out by observation or scrutiny (often followed by out ).
  3. to observe (a person, place, enemy, etc.) secretively or furtively with hostile intent.
  4. to inspect or examine or to search or look for closely or carefully.

spy

/ 貹ɪ /

noun

  1. a person employed by a state or institution to obtain secret information from rival countries, organizations, companies, etc
  2. a person who keeps secret watch on others
  3. obsolete.
    a close view
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. intrusually foll byon to keep a secret or furtive watch (on)
  2. intr to engage in espionage
  3. tr to catch sight of; descry
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • s󾱱 noun
  • dzܳȴ verb (used with object) outspied outspying
  • p· noun plural superspies
  • ܲ·辱 adjective
  • ܲ·iԲ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spy1

First recorded in 1200–50; (for the verb) Middle English spien, shortened from espien, espyen “to espy” ( espy ); (for the noun) Middle English, shortened from espy “a spy,” from Old French espie
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spy1

C13 spien, from Old French espier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German ō, Middle Dutch spien
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Mr Donaldson was once a key figure in Sinn Féin's rise as a political force in Northern Ireland but he was found brutally murdered in 2006 after it emerged he had been a spy.

From

In December, he said he "ceased all contact" with Yang Tengbo, who led the Chinese arm of Pitch@Palace, after receiving advice from the UK government which alleged that he was a spy.

From

It followed an affidavit from Bar a few days earlier, in which he had accused the prime minister of demanding personal loyalty and ordering the Shin Bet to spy on anti-government protesters.

From

It follows his meeting with the head of Israel's spy agency on Thursday.

From

Here, in a conversation edited for length and clarity, Brosnan discusses developing Conrad, returning to the spy genre in the Steven Soderbergh film “Black Bag” and why acting still thrills him.

From

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