spying
[spˈaɪɪŋ] /ˈspī/ (ame, mw) · /spaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [spˈaɪɪŋ] /spaɪ/ (ame, ipa)
spying — noun
1. the secret work of collecting information for an enemy or rival and passing it b
the secret work of collecting information for an enemy or rival and passing it back, especially between governments or large organizations.
Tariq was jailed for spying for a foreign army during the border conflict.
pattern: spying for [nation/army]
Several diplomats were expelled after years of spying inside the defense ministry.
collocation: years of spying
The novel centers on wartime spying between rival governments in Europe.
Digital spying on weapons research can threaten a country's national security.
- espionage
more formal term, especially for state or military cases
- intelligence work
broader term that may include legal information gathering
- covert operations
broader and can include actions beyond collecting information
文法句型
spying + for + [nation/organization]
years of spying
wartime spying
用法筆記
Often followed by 'for' to name the side receiving the information ('spying for a foreign power'). Unlike noun sense 2, this sense usually involves an enemy or rival rather than general private observation.
常見錯誤
2. the secret watching of people, places, or organizations to learn private informa
the secret watching of people, places, or organizations to learn private information, especially when the hidden watching itself is the main issue.
Government spying on phone records angered many voters across the country.
collocation: government spying
A company was fined for spying on workers through hidden office cameras.
collocation: corporate spying
Neighbours complained about someone spying on families from the empty apartment.
The reporter exposed illegal spying by hackers hired to track activists.
The case involved spying on union leaders inside the factory.
- surveillance
more neutral and often used for legal or official monitoring
- snooping
more informal and often suggests nosy private behavior
- covert monitoring
emphasizes the hidden watching itself
文法句型
spying + on + [target]
illegal spying
government spying
用法筆記
Often followed by 'on' to name the person or place being watched. Unlike noun sense 1, this sense does not require passing secrets to an enemy or rival.
常見錯誤
3. the act of finally seeing or noticing someone or something after searching or pa
the act of finally seeing or noticing someone or something after searching or paying close attention.
After hours of searching, the spying of the rare bird thrilled the hikers.
pattern: spying of [something sought]
The lookout's spying of the approaching ship gave the crew time to prepare.
Heloísa's spying of the error in the contract saved her company thousands of dollars.
The astronomer's spying of the comet through a small telescope thrilled the class.
文法句型
spying + of + [noun]
用法筆記
This sense is rare in modern English and considered somewhat literary or dated. It is formed from verb sense 3 (to manage to see someone or something after looking hard). The structure 'spying of [noun]' is the most common pattern.
spying — verb
- spyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spyings3rd person singular
- spyinging-ing form
- spyingedpast simple
1. to secretly watch a country, organization, or group and report what you learn to
to secretly watch a country, organization, or group and report what you learn to a rival or enemy.
A foreign agent was arrested for spying on the nation's nuclear research facilities.
collocation: spy on [target]
James was accused of spying for a hostile government during the regional conflict.
collocation: spy for [nation]
Camille denied spying and said she was only interviewing factory workers.
Two phone companies were caught spying on each other's new battery designs.
Neighbours saw a man spying on the fenced lab across the street.
- eavesdrop on
limited to overhearing conversations, not general observation
- infiltrate
to join a group secretly in order to spy on it from the inside
文法句型
spy + on + [target]
spy + for + [nation/group]
spy + against + [nation]
用法筆記
The prepositions carry different meanings: 'spy on' introduces the target under observation, while 'spy for' introduces the party that receives the information. 'Spy against' is less common but emphasizes the adversarial relationship.
常見錯誤
2. to find out details about a place or situation by quietly watching or moving aro
to find out details about a place or situation by quietly watching or moving around it without being noticed.
The scout spied the enemy camp from behind a fallen tree near the river.
pattern: spy + [location] (transitive)
Before the robbery, the gang spent days spying the bank's back entrance.
Soraya spied the building's layout from a window across the street.
Engineers spied the tunnel site before moving heavy equipment there.
- reconnoitre
military term, more formal
- observe
less specific, does not imply secrecy
文法句型
spy + [place]
spy + into + [place/activity]
用法筆記
This sense takes a direct object that names a place or one of its features (camp, layout, site). Distinguish from verb sense 1, which focuses on gathering secrets for a rival rather than scouting the place itself.
常見錯誤
3. to manage to see a person or thing after looking hard, often when they are partl
to manage to see a person or thing after looking hard, often when they are partly hidden or far away.
Jiwoo spied a friend across the crowded train station and waved to get her attention.
I spied a small café tucked between two large office buildings near the park.
The teacher spied a student copying answers during the final exam in June.
Maja spied a typo in the contract before both sides signed it.
From the hill, Lara spied deer drinking from the river below.
- spot
more common in everyday English; 'I spotted a mistake'
- catch sight of
suggests a brief or sudden moment of seeing
- glimpse
implies seeing only partially or for a very short time
- miss
to fail to see or notice
文法句型
spy + [someone/something]
spy + [someone] + [verb]-ing
用法筆記
Unlike verb senses 1 and 2, this sense has no notion of secrecy or hostility. It simply means 'catch sight of after looking deliberately.' It is common with the pattern 'spy + [object] + [verb]-ing' (e.g. 'spied him leaving'). Not passive-friendly: rarely used as 'was spied'.