Definition of spy - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
watcherperson who secretly watches others
- He felt like a spy, observing from the shadows.
2.
espionageperson who secretly gathers information for a state
- The spy was caught stealing documents.
Verb
1.
espionagetr. secretly watch someone to gather informationtr.
- They were hired to spy on the rival company.
2.
espionageintr. engage in espionage activitiesintr.
- She was trained to spy for the government.
3.
observationtr. notice or catch sight of somethingtr.
- I spy a bird in the tree.
Expressions with spy
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
game where players guess objects by first letter
Let's play I spy on the car ride.
observe secretly to gather information
She decided to spy on her competitor to understand their strategies..
find out by careful and detailed observation
She managed to spy out the hidden details in the painting.
assess a situation before taking action
She decided to spy out the land before making her proposal.
secretly place a spy in an organization
They decided to plant a spy in the rival company.
government organization that secretly gathers information about other countries or groups
The novel describes a spy agency trying to stop an international threat.
aircraft used for secret intelligence gathering
The spy plane flew over the enemy territory.
network of individuals engaged in espionage
The authorities uncovered a spy ring operating within the city.
police officer who secretly gathers information
The spy cop infiltrated the activist group to gather intelligence.
spy remaining inactive until needed
The sleeper spy lived quietly for years before being activated.
small or hidden video device used secretly to watch or record people
The inspectors found a spy camera concealed inside the wall clock.
exchange of captured spies between countries
The spy swap was arranged between the two nations.
satellite used for espionage
The spy satellite captured images of the military base..
Origin of spy
Latin, specere (to look)
Terms with spy included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
secret entry
enter secretly to spy or influence
intelligence work
spy serving two opposing nations, hiding true loyalty
espionage
spy working for a foreign government
spy organization
group that gathers secret information worldwide
surveil
follow someone secretly or spy on them
spy
undercover agent or spy
spy
secret or military information useful for planning actions
espionage
to discover a spy or traitor
investigation
work secretly to investigate or spy
espionage
spy or secret operative for a government
espionage
spy who infiltrates an organization
computer crime
illegal computer access to steal data or spy
spy work
collect information secretly or discreetly
espionage
spy pretending to serve two countries while actually serving a third
espionage
spy or secret agent
espionage
spy living secretly until activated
espionage spy
return home after working undercover in enemy territory
spy service
the agency responsible for gathering security information
espionage
spy placed to act when activated
espionage
persona for a spy or undercover agent
espionage
spy working for an intelligence agency
horse racing
spy on racehorses to gather betting information
espionage
removal of a spy from a dangerous area
spy fiction
secret agent with the code number 004
Examples of spy in a sentence
She felt like a spy, listening in on the conversation. The spy infiltrated the enemy's headquarters. She was revealed to be a spy after years of undercover work. Agents spied on the diplomat for months. She was accused of spying on a colleague. He was caught trying to spy on the rival company.
They hired him to spy during the international summit. She can spy the hidden details in the painting. He tried to spy the distant ship through the telescope.
View all translations of spy
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:espion, espionner, ...
- German:Spion, ausspionieren, ...
- Italian:spia, spiare, ...
- Spanish:espía, espiar, ...
- Portuguese:espião, espionar, ...
- Chinese:间谍, 监视, ...
- Japanese:スパイ, スパイする, ...
- Arabic:جَاسُوس, تَجَسَّسَ, ...
- Hebrew:מְרַגֵּל, לְרַגֵּל, ...
- Russian:шпион, шпионить, ...
- Ukrainian:шпигун, шпигувати, ...
- Hindi:जासूस, जासूसी करना, ...
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