surveil

verb

sur·​veil sər-ˈvāl How to pronounce surveil (audio)
surveilled; surveilling

transitive verb

: to subject to surveillance

Examples of surveil in a Sentence

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.
Documents say Mesa police received an alert on Jan. 5 that a license plate reader spotted the plate, prompting officers to surveil the vehicle, which matched the description of a gray Ford Focus involved in the previous robberies. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024 On occasions when witnesses threatened to expose or sue them, a security company was used to surveil and intimidate those individuals to secure their silence. Mark Williams, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024 For the November election, some groups have committed to fundraising in order to surveil the boxes around the clock over public livestream. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 17 Oct. 2024 According to the criminal complaint, Iza hired Childs in November 2021 to find E.Z. and surveil him. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for surveil 

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from surveillance

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surveil was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near surveil

Cite this Entry

“Surveil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surveil. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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