# sneak out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sneak-out
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to leave a place quietly and secretly so that no one notices you.

For teachers: to depart a location stealthily or surreptitiously to avoid detection. The verb is intransitive in this sense, though it can take a prepositional phrase to indicate the point of exit.

## Examples

- I tried to sneak out of the house after midnight.
- The meeting was so boring that he decided to sneak out through the back door while the boss was talking.
- Under the cover of darkness, the prisoners managed to sneak out of the barracks and reach the perimeter fence undetected.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He sneaked out the room." but "He sneaked out of the room." — when followed by a specific location, the preposition 'of' is required to connect the phrasal verb to the noun.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'of' followed by a location like a room, house, or meeting.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'slip out', which is similar but less focused on the 'sneaky' or deceptive intent; 'sneak out' implies you are doing something you shouldn't.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.