n.
Pronunciation: ' sn ē k
Function: verb
Inflected Form: sneaked \ ' sn ē kt \ or snuck \ ' sn ə k \ ; sneak · ing
Etymology: akin to Old English sn ī can to sneak along, Old Norse sn ī kja
Date: 1594
intransitive verb
1 : to go stealthily or furtively : SLINK < snuck out early>
2 : to act in or as if in a furtive manner
3 : to carry the football on a quarterback sneak
transitive verb : to put, bring, or take in a furtive or artful manner < sneak a smoke>
synonyms see LURK
– sneak up on : to approach or act on stealthily
usage From its earliest appearance in print in the late 19th century as a dialectal and prob. uneducated form, the past and past participle snuck has risen to the status of standard and to approximate equality with sneaked. Indications are that it is continuing to grow in frequency. It is most common in the U.S. and Canada, but has also been spotted in British and Australian English.