Wander vs Sneak - What's the difference?
wander | sneak |
(lb) To move without purpose or specified destination; often in search of livelihood.
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*(Bible), (w) xi.37:
*:They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins.
*
*:“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.
*
*:There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy.Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors. Passengers wander restlessly about or hurry, with futile energy, from place to place.
(lb) To stray; stray from one's course; err.
:
*(Bible), (Psalms) cxix.10:
*:O, let me not wander from thy commandments.
(lb) To commit adultery.
(lb) To go somewhere indirectly or at varying speeds; to move in a curved path.
(lb) Of the mind, to lose focus or clarity of argument or attention.
One who sneaks; one who moves stealthily to acquire an item or information.
A cheat; a con artist; a trickster
An informer; a tell-tale.
(obsolete, cricket) A ball bowled so as to roll along the ground; a daisy-cutter
To creep or go stealthily; to come or go while trying to avoid detection, as a person who does not wish to be seen.
To take something stealthily without permission.
(dated) To hide, especially in a mean or cowardly manner.
* Wake
(informal, especially with on) To inform an authority about another's misdemeanours; to tell tales; to grass.
In advance; before release to the general public.
In a stealthy or surreptitious manner.
As verbs the difference between wander and sneak
is that wander is (lb) to move without purpose or specified destination; often in search of livelihood while sneak is to creep or go stealthily; to come or go while trying to avoid detection, as a person who does not wish to be seen.As nouns the difference between wander and sneak
is that wander is the act or instance of wandering while sneak is one who sneaks; one who moves stealthily to acquire an item or information.As an adjective sneak is
in advance; before release to the general public.wander
English
Verb
(en verb)Conjugation
(en-conj-simple)Synonyms
* (move without purpose) err, roam * (commit adultery) cheat * (go somewhere indirectly) * (lose focus) driftDerived terms
* wander off * wanderer * wanderlustAnagrams
* * * ----sneak
English
Noun
(en noun)- My little brother is such a sneak - yesterday I caught him trying to look through my diary.
- I can't believe I gave that sneak $50 for a ticket when they were selling for $20 at the front gate.
Verb
- He decided to sneak into the kitchen for a second cookie while his mom was on the phone.
- I went to sneak a chocolate but my dad caught me.
- [Slander] sneaks its head.
- If you sneak on me I'll bash you!
Usage notes
* The past and past participle snuck'' is primarily found in North American English, where it originated in the late 19th century as a dialectal form. It is still regarded as informal by some, but its use appears to be increasing in frequency and acceptability. It is occasionally found in British and Australian/Hiberno-English, too, though regarded as an American form. (SeeOxford Dictionaries, ''The Cambridge Guide to English Usage'', ''Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary'', ''Webster's New World College Dictionary .) * To sneak'' (take) something is not the same as to ''steal'' something. In this sense, ''sneak'' typically implies trying to avoid a supervisor's or guardian's mild displeasure or mild discipline, while ''steal indicates a more serious action and often the person stealing does not know the owner of the item being stolen.
Derived terms
* sneaker * sneaky * sneakily * sneakiness * sneak peek * sneak preview * sneak thief * sneak away * sneak in * sneak off * sneak out * sneak up/sneak up on * sneak aroundAdjective
(-)- The company gave us a sneak look at their new electronic devices.
- I was able to get a sneak peek at the guest list.