snoop

1 of 2

verb

snooped; snooping; snoops

intransitive verb

: to look or pry especially in a sneaking or meddlesome manner
snooper noun

snoop

2 of 2

noun

: one that snoops

Examples of snoop in a Sentence

Verb She locks up her diary to keep her brother from snooping. Government agencies have been snooping on them for years. She doesn't want reporters snooping into her personal life. Noun No, I didn't read your e-mail. I'm no snoop. We had a snoop around their apartment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Caught snooping What a weirdo pic.twitter.com/jjobqAomhp — v (@vgveegeevg) October 7, 2024 SnoopyWeekly’s silence on the election was deafening. Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024 The book also depicts Lomeli also snooping, but there’s no mention of Sister Agnes nearby. Eric Andersson, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
And a feature called Track Cleaner wipes away tracks and traces of your computer and internet use, to foil snoops. PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024 Scores of security guards keep the homeless, the snoops and the patent-stealers at bay, while the dealmakers pack into the cramped Westin St. Francis hotel and its surrounds to meet with cash-hungry executives from biotech and other health care companies. Molly Castle Work and Arthur Allen, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for snoop 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch snoepen to buy or eat on the sly; akin to Dutch snappen to snap

First Known Use

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snoop was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near snoop

Cite this Entry

“Snoop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snoop. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

snoop

1 of 2 verb
: to look or search especially in a sneaking or meddlesome manner
snooper noun

snoop

2 of 2 noun
: one that snoops

More from Merriam-Webster on snoop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!