Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense snoops, present participle snooping, past tense, past participle snooped
1. verb
If someone snoops around a place, they secretly look around it in order to find out things.
Ricardo was the one she'd seen snooping around Kim's hotel room. [VERB adverb/preposition]
[Also VERB]
Snoop is also a noun.
The second house that he had a snoop around contained 'strong simple furniture'.
snooperWord forms: plural snooperscountable noun
The island's strange lack of street names is meant to dissuade journalistic snoopers.
2. verb
If someone snoops on a person, they watch them secretly in order to find out things about their life.
Governments have been known to snoop on innocent citizens. [VERB + on]
Synonyms: spy, poke your nose in, nose, interfere More Synonyms of snoop
snoopercountable noun
You bloody snooper! All the time you've been talking to me you've been prying intomy family.
Synonyms: nosy parker, snoop [informal], busybody, meddler More Synonyms of snoop
3. countable noun
A snoop is the same as a snooper.
Each neighborhood had its own organization of snoops who reported strangers to theauthorities.
More Synonyms of snoop
snoop in British English
(snuːp) informal
verb
1. (intr; often foll by about or around)
to pry into the private business of others
noun
2.
a person who pries into the business of others
3.
an act or instance of snooping
Derived forms
snoopy (ˈsnoopy)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Dutch snoepen to eat furtively
snoop in American English
(snup)
US
verb intransitive
1. Informal
to look about in a sneaking, prying way
noun Informal
2.
a person who snoops
: also ˈsnooper
3.
the act of snooping
Derived forms
snoopy (ˈsnoopy)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈsnoopier or ˈsnoopiest
Word origin
Du snoepen, to eat snacks on the sly
Examples of 'snoop' in a sentence
snoop
We accept that in future only a judge can sign off police snooping requests.
The Sun (2016)
The government has promised to strengthen protections against police snooping.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They insist they need the power to snoop on their emails.
The Sun (2012)
But the best part was having a snoop around all the amazingly bling houses.
The Sun (2014)
So you support the notion of parents snooping around if they feel there is reason to do so?
Christianity Today (2000)
We don't trust local councils or police with snooping powers.
The Sun (2015)
In theory, it might make sense to give judges the power to grant snooping applications.
The Sun (2015)
They don't like people snooping around what they are doing.
The Sun (2011)
NEW laws will give the police powers to snoop on millions more emails and let courts hear sensitive intelligence in secret.
The Sun (2012)
A report by MPs is expected to back the need for email and mobile phone snooping powers.
The Sun (2015)
If you don't want employers snooping around, change your settings.
The Sun (2014)
Previously agreed plans, such as giving the intelligence agencies more snooping powers, were unexpectedly ripped up.
The Sun (2015)
He blames the internet, which lets people snoop around homes on property portals, for the trend.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Civil liberties campaigners reacted with concern to the disclosure that police were snooping on personal messages so often, without any external monitoring and with few safeguards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Last week, I went for a snoop around to find out.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I've always enjoyed snooping around other people's homes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And I don't want a cleaner snooping around.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
snoop
British English: snoop VERB
If someone snoops around a place, they secretly look around it in order to find out things.
He was the one she'd seen snooping around her friend's hotel room.
American English: snoop
Brazilian Portuguese: bisbilhotar
Chinese: 窥探
European Spanish: fisgar
French: fouiner
German: schnüffeln
Italian: curiosare
Japanese: かぎ回る
Korean: 염탐하다
European Portuguese: bisbilhotar
Latin American Spanish: fisgar
Chinese translation of 'snoop'
snoop
(snuːp)
vi
to snoop around到处(處)窥(窺)探 (dàochù kuītàn)
to snoop on sb窥(窺)探某人 (kuītàn mǒurén)
1 (verb)
He'd been snooping around the crime scene.
Synonyms
investigate
Gas officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
explore
The film explores the relationship between artist and instrument.
have a good look at
prowl around
nose around
peer into
2 (verb)
Definition
to pry into the private business of others
Governments have been known to snoop into innocent citizens' lives.
Synonyms
spy
I never agreed to spy for the United States.
poke your nose in
nose
interfere
Stop interfering and leave me alone!
pry (informal)
We do not want people prying into our affairs.
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of snooping
He had a snoop around.
Synonyms
look
search
There was no chance of him being found alive and the search was abandoned.
nose
prowl
investigation
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
2 (noun)
Definition
a person who snoops
its own organization of snoops
Synonyms
spy
He was jailed for five years as an alleged spy.
secret agent
He was blacklisted as a secret agent.
double agent
secret service agent
undercover agent
mole
foreign agent
fifth columnist
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of explore
Definition
to examine or investigate, esp. systematically
The film explores the relationship between artist and instrument.
Synonyms
investigate,
consider,
research,
survey,
search,
prospect,
examine,
probe,
analyse,
look into,
inspect,
work over,
scrutinize,
inquire into
in the sense of interfere
Definition
to try to influence other people's affairs where one is not involved or wanted
Stop interfering and leave me alone!
Synonyms
meddle,
intervene,
intrude,
butt in,
get involved,
tamper,
pry,
encroach,
intercede,
stick your nose in (informal),
stick your oar in (informal),
poke your nose in (informal),
intermeddle,
put your two cents in (US, slang)
in the sense of investigation
Definition
a careful search or examination in order to discover facts
He ordered an investigation into the affair.
Synonyms
examination,
study,
inquiry,
hearing,
research,
review,
search,
survey,
analysis,
probe,
inspection,
exploration,
scrutiny,
inquest,
fact finding,
recce (slang)
Nearby words of
snoop
snobbery
snobbish
snooker
snoop
snooper
snooty
snooze
Synonyms of 'snoop'
snoop
Explore 'snoop' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pry
Definition
to make an impertinent or uninvited inquiry (about a private matter)
We do not want people prying into our affairs.
Synonyms
be inquisitive,
peer,
interfere,
poke,
peep,
meddle,
intrude,
snoop (informal),
nose into,
be nosy (informal),
be a busybody,
ferret about,
poke your nose in or into (informal)
in the sense of search
Definition
an attempt to find something by looking somewhere
There was no chance of him being found alive and the search was abandoned.
Synonyms
hunt,
look,
inquiry,
investigation,
examination,
pursuit,
quest,
going-over (informal),
inspection,
exploration,
scrutiny,
rummage,
Google,
googlewhack (informal)
in the sense of secret agent
Definition
a person employed by a government to find out the military and political secrets of other governments