spy

1 of 2

verb

ˈspī 

spied; spying

transitive verb

1

: to watch secretly usually for hostile purposes

2

: to catch sight of : see

3

: to search or look for intensively

—usually used with out

spy out places fit for vending … goods

—S. E. Morison

intransitive verb

1

: to observe or search for something : look

2

: to watch secretly as a spy

spy

2 of 2

noun

plural spies

1

: one that spies:

a

: one who keeps secret watch on a person or thing to obtain information

b

: a person employed by one nation to secretly convey classified information of strategic importance to another nation

also : a person who conveys the trade secrets of one company to another

2

: an act of spying

Synonyms

Verb

• behold
• catch
• descry
• discern
• distinguish
• espy
• eye
• look (at)
• note
• notice
• observe
• perceive
• regard
• remark
• see
• sight
• spot
• view
• witness

Noun

• agent
• asset
• emissary
• intelligencer
• mole
• operative
• spook
• undercover

Examples of spy in a Sentence

Verb

They were accused of spying for a foreign government.

I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there.

Noun

He was a spy for the CIA.

My coworker is a spy for the boss.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Here’s what to know about the spying scandal that rocked America; one that wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of another show releasing a new season the same week, Black Mirror. —Barry Levitt, Time, 8 Apr. 2025

Another case is the ongoing, high-profile trial of Alice Guo, a former mayor accused of spying for China and maintaining ties to online scam syndicates linked to human trafficking and other criminal activities. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025

Noun

Trump also singled out Aston Martin cars, the ride James Bond uses in the iconic spy movies, while speaking to reporters Wednesday. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 9 May 2025

But for at least the next few years, America’s spy agencies will have their hands full with the rogue government at home. —James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English spien, from Anglo-French espier, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German spehōn to spy; akin to Latin specere to look, look at, Greek skeptesthai & skopein to watch, look at, consider

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spy

• spy on
• spy out
• spy out the land

Rhymes for spy

• ai
• aye
• bae
• bi
• buy
• by
• bye
• chai
• chi
• cry
• die
• dry

Kids Definition

spy

1 of 2 verb

ˈspī 

spied; spying

1

: to watch, inspect, or examine secretly : act as a spy

2

: to catch sight of : see

spied a friend in the crowd

spy

2 of 2 noun

plural spies

1

: one that watches the movement or actions of others especially in secret

2

: a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country