- (intransitive; often followed by about or around) to pry into the private business of others
- a person who pries into the business of others
- an act or instance of snooping
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
snoop /snup/USA pronunciation
[Informal.]
v. [no object]
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v. [no object]
- Informal Termsto go about in a sneaking way while trying to gain information;
prowl;
pry:always snooping around the office.
n. [countable]
- Informal Termsan act or instance of snooping.
- Informal TermsAlso, ˈsnoop•er. one who snoops.
snoop
(sno̅o̅p),USA pronunciation [Informal.]
v.i.
n.
snoop′er, n.
v.i.
- Informal Termsto prowl or pry;
go about in a sneaking, prying way.
n.
- Informal Termsan act or instance of snooping.
- Informal Termsa person who snoops.
- Informal Termsa private detective.
- Dutch snoepen to take and eat food on the sly
- 1825–35, American.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
snoop /snuːp/ informal vb
'snoop' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):