A spy is someone who secretly finds out information about others, often in wars or spying on countries. This is the most common meaning of the word.
The spy watched the enemy closely.
She worked as a spy during the war.
To spy means to watch or look at someone secretly to know what they do. People spy to find out secret information.
He liked to spy on birds in the park.
They spied on their neighbors quietly.
A spy can also mean a small tool, like a camera or microphone, used to secretly watch or record people without them knowing.
They found a spy in the hotel room.
A spy caught everyone on video.
To spy can mean to suddenly see or notice something that is not easy to see. It is like spotting something quickly from far away.
I spied a bird on the tree branch.
She spied a small boat on the lake.
Spying can also mean secretly listening to or watching people’s private life or business, like their phone calls, messages, or meetings.
He spied on their phone calls at night.
Some people spy on others online.
In sports or other competitions, a spy is someone who secretly watches the other team to find out their plans or skills.
The spy told his team about the rival's plans.
In sports, a spy watches the other team closely.
To spy can also mean to suddenly see or notice something that appears in the distance or is hard to see clearly.
I spied a rainbow after the rain.
They spied a ship on the horizon.
