noun
spy
speye
noun
1
A person who secretly gathers information about others, often for a government or rival organization.
"The novel follows a Cold War spy working undercover in Berlin."
verb
1
To secretly watch or gather information on someone.
"The agency was accused of spying on foreign diplomats."
2
To catch sight of something, often unexpectedly.
"She spied a familiar face in the crowd."
How to Use Spy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who secretly watches or collects information, or the act of doing so; can also just mean to spot something.
Common pairings
spy on someone
spy a chance
secret spy
Word Forms
spied past tense, spies plural, spies singular
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The novel follows a Cold War _____ working undercover in Berlin.
Etymology
From Old French espier, "to spy," from a Frankish root meaning "to look" or "to see" — related to modern German spähen.