lurking

verb

present participle of lurk
1
as in sneaking
to move about in a sly or secret manner we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hiding
to remain out of sight watch out for snakes lurking in the tall grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lurking Maybe the top of the fridge hasn’t seen a wipe-down in months, or the inside of your toaster tray has some lurking crumbs. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026 Scientists do not yet know whether dark matter is made up of ancient black holes lurking throughout space, undiscovered heavy and slow particles, or unknown lighter and faster particles. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Newcomers Álvarez and Knight couldn’t be better in their newlywed roles, convincing in their giddy love scenes, their casual affections, their unwanted suspicions and, most of all, their terror at whatever is lurking in the air and in their souls. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026 Superstitious Romans imagined demons lurking in the darkness under the toilet seats. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 Reports from across the UK show the mischievous character lurking outside windows and startling passersby. — Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Audiences embraced the films for their creeping realism and slow-building scares, which transformed ordinary bedrooms, hallways and home security cameras into places where something terrifying might be lurking just outside the frame. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 The film, which co-stars Michelle Monaghan and Michael Keaton, taps into primal fears of the unknown and danger lurking in our own backyards. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 The steering could communicate more, and the vehicle's substantial mass is always lurking somewhere underneath the otherwise impressive dynamics. — New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurking
  1. sneaking
  2. hiding
  3. slipping
  4. lying
  5. sliding
Verb
  • Police are investigating a rash of incidents involving people sneaking out of sewers.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Pinch-hitter Eli White followed by sneaking a soft line drive up the middle to drive in Durbin, cutting the Giants’ lead to 2-1.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of sneaking
Verb
  • The trio were found hiding in a ditch about 200 yards from where they were pulled over, according to the news release.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • After six months of war, the deadlock has left the Islamic Republic bitterly divided, while its ultimate arbiter, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, remains in hiding.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiding
Verb
  • The body of a woman who rescued a child struggling in the Delaware River in New Jersey before slipping underwater herself has been recovered following an hourslong search, police said.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Reduce wear time by wearing commuter shoes and slipping into heels once at your destination.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of slipping
Verb
  • Few experiences are more frustrating than lying awake at night while desperately wanting to fall asleep.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That news came the same week that ICE agent Christian Castro, who was charged with shooting a man and lying about it during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, was released from a Texas jail.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of lying
Verb
  • The Braves spent their afternoon with Little League baseball players, sliding down hills and laughing alongside children who will remember Sunday for the rest of their lives.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Defender Kevin O'Toole poked the ball away, but Mboma Dem put away a sliding first-touch shot that opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sliding

Browse Nearby Words

lurkers
lurking
lurks
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Cite this Entry

“Lurking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurking. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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