furtive

/ˈfɜːtɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɜːrtɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfər-tiv/ (ame, mw)

furtive — adjective

  • furtivepositive
  • more furtivecomparative
  • most furtivesuperlative

1. showing an effort to hide what you are doing, asking, or feeling, usually becaus

1.形容詞C1
釋義

showing an effort to hide what you are doing, asking, or feeling, usually because you do not want other people to notice it

例句

Felix cast a furtive glance at the answer sheet before the teacher turned around.

furtive glance — common collocation for a quick hidden look

Adisa made a furtive movement to hide the note under her tray at lunch.

furtive movement — small action done while others are nearby

同義詞
  • secretive

    broader and often used for a person's general behaviour over time

  • stealthy

    focuses more on quiet physical movement to avoid detection

  • sneaky

    more informal and more openly negative

  • surreptitious

    more formal and usually used for hidden actions rather than expressions

反義詞
  • open

    shows intentions and feelings without trying to hide them

  • direct

    acts or speaks plainly instead of hinting in a hidden way

  • straightforward

    suggests honest, easy-to-read behaviour

文法句型

furtive + noun (glance, look, smile, movement)

be / sound furtive

用法筆記

Common with nouns like glance, look, smile, movement, and question. It usually describes a brief visible sign of secrecy; for a person's general habit of hiding information, secretive is more usual.

常見錯誤

❌She is furtive about her private life.
✅She is secretive about her private life.
💡'furtive' usually describes a hidden look, movement, or tone, not a person's long-term habit of keeping things secret.