furtively

F4U1R1T1I1V4E1L1Y4
UK/ˈfɜːtɪvli/

adverb

In a furtive manner.

UncommonScrabble 18

Meanings

adverbfurtively (comparative more furtively, superlative most furtively)

comparative more furtively · superlative most furtively

  1. In a furtive manner.

    And furtively Time looked him in the face and edged towards him fingering with his dripping fingers the hilt of his nimble sword.

    1906, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods, London: William Heineman, →OCLC, page 4
    1 more example

    The only diversions I recall were a pair of Avocets flying over, and a young lady who regularly each afternoon furtively crept into the dunes [...] and crouched down for a clandestine wee!

    1983, Bill Oddie, Gone Birding, London: Methuen, page 128

    Synonyms: secretively, surreptitiously

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbIn a furtive manner.

More synonyms by meaning

adverbin a furtive manner

Similar

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishfurtyvely
  2. Englishfurtively

From Middle English furtyvely; equivalent to furtive + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan furtivament
  • furtivamentin a furtive manner
Chinese Mandarin 偷偷
  • 偷偷 (tōutōu)in a furtive manner
Czech kradmo, skrytě
  • kradmoin a furtive manner
  • skrytěin a furtive manner
  • nenápadněin a furtive manner
Esperanto ŝtele
  • ŝtelein a furtive manner
Finnish vaivihkaa, vaivihkaisesti
  • vaivihkaain a furtive manner
  • vaivihkaisestiin a furtive manner
French furtivement, subrepticement
  • furtivementin a furtive manner
  • subrepticementin a furtive manner
Japanese ひそかに
  • ひそかに (hisoka ni)in a furtive manner
Polish ukradkiem, chyłkiem
  • ukradkiemin a furtive manner
  • chyłkiemin a furtive manner
  • potajemniein a furtive manner
  • cichaczemin a furtive manner
  • skryciein a furtive manner
  • tajemniein a furtive manner
  • ukradkowoin a furtive manner
Russian скры́тно, укра́дкой
  • скры́тно (skrýtno)in a furtive manner
  • укра́дкой (ukrádkoj)in a furtive manner
  • тайко́м (tajkóm)in a furtive manner
  • та́йно (tájno)in a furtive manner
Spanish furtivamente, a hurtadillas
  • furtivamentein a furtive manner
  • a hurtadillasin a furtive manner
  • a furtoin a furtive manner
Cite this entry
APA

furtively. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/furtively

MLA

“furtively.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/furtively. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “furtively,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/furtively.

Source: furtively on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.