What does sneaks mean?
Sneaks has two readily recognizable uses. As an informal plural noun, it means sneakers or casual athletic shoes, especially in North American speech; “a pair of sneaks” is natural, while “sneakers” is the more standard term. As the third-person singular present form of the verb sneak, it describes moving or acting quietly, furtively, or without attracting attention. This verbal use can suggest deliberate secrecy: someone who sneaks into a room may be trying to avoid notice, while someone who sneaks a glance tries to look without being observed. The word is related to the adjective sneaky and the noun sneaker. Together, the forms connect stealthy movement with footwear whose soft soles make relatively quiet movement possible. Although the plural noun is informal, the verb form itself is common and versatile in everyday speech, informal writing, and literature.
An informal plural form of sneaker, referring to sneakers or casual athletic shoes.
"The children wore their favorite pair of sneaks to the park."
Common chiefly in informal North American English; sneakers is the usual general term.
The third-person singular present tense of sneak: to move or act quietly and furtively.
"The cat sneaks across the garden wall whenever the house is quiet."
Often implies an intention to avoid notice, although this can vary with context.
Sneakers is the standard and most widely used plural. Sneaks is an informal North American alternative, particularly common in casual speech and fashion-related contexts.
"He wore his new sneakers to the concert."
A shoe earns the name sneaker by doing what the verb says: moving quietly enough to slip past notice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sneaks
Sneak comes from Old English snēcan, meaning “to crouch, creep,” and continued in Middle English as sniken. Its modern sense of moving quietly or furtively developed from the older idea of moving in a concealed or low-slung manner. The same root produced sneaker and sneaky, and by the early twentieth century sneaker was established for a soft-soled athletic shoe.
Related word forms
How sneaks is actually used
The plural noun sneaks is informal and is most common in North American English; sneakers is the standard, widely used form. The verb is neutral in register, although sneak often suggests furtiveness or secrecy that is not present in every synonym.
Easily confused with sneaks
Sneaks can mean informal shoes or refer to moving stealthily, whereas snakes are limbless reptiles.