spy on

phrasal verb

spied on; spying on; spies on

: to watch (someone) secretly

He spies on his neighbors.

Have you been spying on me?

Examples of spy on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

There’s nothing unusual about China’s trying to spy on Americans or promote itself. —

Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2025 Trump told Hannity that any electronic device made in China, from telephones to computers, could also be used to spy on Americans. —

Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025 Jamie Coughlin Silverman, Gabriel Silverman Thirty years after the Cold War ends, a former political prisoner of the East German secret police searches for the truth after learning his brother spied on him for the regime, and discovers the lasting effects of living in a surveillance state. —

Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025 Or Helly is Helena, sent down to spy on the group when her innie remains locked up somewhere. —

Paul Tassi, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for spy on