snoop
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to look through someone's private things or watch them secretly to find out information.
v.to investigate or spy on the private lives or belongings of others, typically without permission.
Simple“I caught my sister snooping around my bedroom looking for my diary.”
In context“Journalists were accused of snooping into the celebrity's private medical records to find a headline for the Sunday edition.”
UsageOften used with the prepositions 'around', 'in', or 'into'.
PitfallShe was snooping her brother's room. She was snooping around her brother's room.When describing the place you are investigating, use 'around' or 'in' after the verb.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a person who secretly looks for information about others.
n.a person who habitually prys into the affairs of others; a meddler.
Simple“The old man next door is a bit of a snoop who watches everyone from his window.”
In context“The office snoop was eventually reprimanded after being caught reading confidential memos left on the manager's desk.”
Synonymsbusybodyprier - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an act of looking around secretly to find something out.
n.an instance or act of snooping or prying.
Simple“I had a quick snoop in the fridge to see if there was any cake left.”
In context“After a thorough snoop through the archives, the researcher discovered a letter that changed the entire historical narrative.”
Synonymslook aroundinvestigation
From Dutch snoepen (“to pry, eat in secret, sneak”). Related to Dutch and Low German snappen (“to bite, seize”), Dutch snavel (“beak, bill, pecker, neb”), German Schnabel (“beak, bill, mouth”). More at snap.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.