surreptitiously
surreptitiously — adverb
1. in a quiet, careful way that keeps an action hidden from other people
in a quiet, careful way that keeps an action hidden from other people
Dahlia surreptitiously checked her phone under the table during the meeting.
Kenji slipped the note surreptitiously into his colleague's coat pocket before the meeting started.
surreptitiously + verb of movement (slipped, slid, tucked)
The security camera caught the employee surreptitiously taking money from the till.
Mert filmed the whole conversation surreptitiously, keeping the phone low beside the table.
Hari glanced surreptitiously at his classmate's test answers during the exam.
- secretly
more general; no emphasis on the effort to avoid being seen in the act
- stealthily
stresses quiet, careful movement to avoid being heard or seen
- furtively
implies nervousness or guilt; a quick, anxious action
- covertly
more formal; often used for planned operations
常見錯誤
surreptitiously — adjective
- surreptitiouslypositive
- more surreptitiouslycomparative
- most surreptitiouslysuperlative
1. done, arranged, or obtained in a secret way, so that no one notices
done, arranged, or obtained in a secret way, so that no one notices
Camille sent a surreptitious text message while her boss turned away for a moment.
surreptitious + communication (text, email, message)
The guard missed the surreptitious exchange of files between the two prisoners.
A surreptitious recording of the meeting was later shared with the press.
Zola took a surreptitious sip from the small bottle hidden inside her jacket.
Bao noticed a surreptitious signal pass between the two men at the bar.
- clandestine
more formal; often implies the action is illicit or forbidden
- covert
stresses being hidden or not openly declared, especially in official contexts
- stealthy
emphasises quiet, careful movement to avoid detection
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes the action or object itself as secret. A 'surreptitious recording' (sense 1) names a recording made secretly; a 'surreptitious photographer' (sense 2) describes a person who acts secretly.
2. behaving in a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen or heard while doing somethi
behaving in a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen or heard while doing something
The surreptitious photographer snapped pictures of the wedding without permission.
surreptitious + person role (photographer, observer, visitor)
A surreptitious neighbour watched the new family through a gap in the fence.
Cole adopted a surreptitious manner as he moved through the darkened building.
The surreptitious student copied answers whenever the teacher turned to the board.
Jude read the letter in a surreptitious way, hiding it whenever someone walked past.
- open
acting without hiding anything
- forthright
direct and honest in manner; the opposite of secretive