Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

spying

/ˈspaɪ.ɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.65 in modern English

Syllables: spy-ing
IPA: /ˈspaɪ.ɪŋ/

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

present participle and gerund of spy

noun

espionage; the act of secretly gathering information

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"There are two ways in which the obsessive character of jealousy tends to exert itself: one is in the need to know, the endless tests and investigations and spyings that are so characteristic of jealousy."

Etymology

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: spyinge

Usage

Inflected Forms

spyings (plural)

Derived Forms

antispying cyberspying unspying

Synonyms

detection catching espial spotting undercover work

Rhymes With

trying buying flying lying dying crying applying underlying denying relying supplying drying

Questions

How do you pronounce spying?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈspaɪ.ɪŋ/.
What does spying mean?: present participle and gerund of spy
Where does spying come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce spying

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “spying”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈspaɪ.ɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “spying”.
Repeat and practice — Say “spying” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.