What does surreptitiously mean?
Surreptitiously means secretly and covertly, describing an action carried out in a way intended to escape notice. The word is especially useful when the concealment itself is significant: someone may enter a room surreptitiously, record a conversation surreptitiously, or copy information without permission. Its formal, somewhat literary register makes it well suited to journalism, historical writing, and formal descriptions, while its connotations can suggest secrecy, intrusion, or dishonesty. In general usage, it conveys more deliberate concealment than words such as “secretly,” which may simply indicate privacy, and more than “quietly,” which focuses mainly on the absence of noise. The adverb is used in British and American English. Etymologically, it comes through Latin from a combination meaning “to take by stealth,” reflecting the long-standing idea of an action hidden from view.
adverbIn a secret or covert manner, without attracting attention or being noticed.
- In a secret or covert manner, without attracting attention or being noticed.
"The witness surreptitiously took notes while pretending to read the newspaper."
"The competitor surreptitiously signaled to a teammate across the court."
"Several details were surreptitiously removed from the document before it was published."
The word hides its meaning in plain sight: its Latin roots mean roughly 'to seize or take secretly.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does surreptitiously come from?
The word comes from Latin surrepere, meaning “to take or seize secretly,” formed from sub- (“under”) and rapere (“to seize”). Latin developed the adjective surreptitius, and English later formed the adverb surreptitiously with the suffix -ously. Related English words include surreptitious and the less common subreptitious, while rapacious and rapture belong to the same broader Latin family associated with seizing or taking.
How surreptitiously is actually used
A formal, literary word, it often suggests concealment and may imply dishonesty, intrusion, or evasion. It is widely understood in both British and American English.
Easily confused with surreptitiously
Surreptitious is the adjective describing something done secretly, whereas surreptitiously is the adverb describing an action performed secretly.