ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lurking

adj. · n.
US //ˈɫɝkɪŋ// UK //lˈɜːkɪŋ// lurk·ing
  1. 1 hidden and waiting (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    waiting or hiding somewhere, especially when you are about to do something bad or sneaky.

    remaining hidden or waiting in ambush, often with a sinister or predatory intent.

    Example

    He had a lurking feeling that someone was following him through the dark park.

    Example

    The detective noticed a lurking figure in the shadows of the alleyway, barely visible under the flickering streetlamp.
  2. 2 present but not seen (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    existing but hidden, like a feeling or a problem that you cannot quite see yet.

    existing in a latent or undeveloped state; present but not immediately obvious or active.

    Example

    There was a lurking danger in the old house that no one wanted to talk about.

    Example

    Despite the outward success of the merger, there was a lurking suspicion among the staff that layoffs were inevitable.
  3. 3 online observation (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

    the act of reading messages in an online group or social media without writing anything yourself.

    the practice of observing an online community or social media platform without contributing or posting content.

    Example

    After a few weeks of lurking on the forum, I finally felt brave enough to ask a question.

    Example

    The moderator noted that while active participation was low, the high volume of lurking suggested the topic was of significant interest to the community.

    Usage

    Often used in the context of forums, Discord, or social media threads.

Last updated June 20, 2026