surreptitious

en
en
Change language
Translating...
Find language
العربية الفصحى
Arabic (Standard)
Deutsch
German
Español
Spanish
Français
French
हिन्दी
Hindi
/ˌsʌr.əpˈtɪʃ.əs/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
Done quietly or secretly to avoid being noticed.
Practice using surreptitious in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The child gave a surreptitious smile.
  • He made a surreptitious copy of the file.
  • A surreptitious recording captured the exchange.
  • She took a surreptitious glance at her watch.
  • They held a surreptitious meeting after dark.

Similar words

covert
furtive
stealthy

Meanings

Deliberately unnoticed

adjective
secrecy
neutral
Describes an action, look, or meeting carried out without others becoming aware of it.

Examples

  • She took a surreptitious glance at her watch.
  • They held a surreptitious meeting after dark.
  • A surreptitious recording captured the exchange.
  • He made a surreptitious copy of the file.
  • The child gave a surreptitious smile.

Similar words

furtive
covert
stealthy

Etymology

From Latin surreptitius, based on surripere, to snatch secretly.

FAQ

What does surreptitious mean?

Surreptitious means done secretly to avoid notice.

When is surreptitious used?

It often describes a glance, meeting, copy, or recording.

How does surreptitious differ from secret?

Secret is broad; surreptitious stresses stealthy execution.

How is surreptitious used in a sentence?

She took a surreptitious glance at her watch.

Is surreptitious formal?

It is an advanced word, not limited to formal contexts.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...