secretively
1
6.1
- adverb
- /sɪˈkrɛtɪvli/
:
secretamente
- "Yes," Cara said a little secretively, because she knew that what Wendy wanted was for Cara to tell her what she was going to do.
- smile secretively
- very secretively
- said secretively
Examples
-
Drew trips him as he walks away, all done very secretively since the D.S. is watching.
Fiction book (1991) -
She winked secretively.
Fiction book (1993) -
"You should get rid of them," Grandmother said secretively.
Fiction book (1992) -
"Lay those fifty-twos with the others, behind the door," she whispered secretively.
Fiction book (1997) -
Ofra would bolt hers quietly, secretively, like a fox.
Fiction book (1993) -
She left the room with Don close behind, smiling a little secretively as she heard the outburst that exploded behind them when the doors closed.
Fiction book (1991) -
Narrator 1: Denise and Sonia glance at each other and smile secretively.
Fiction book (2002) -
"Kwan smiles secretively.
Fiction book (1996) -
Instead of searching for the keys as his father had told him, Gem searched for the grasshopper he'd noticed earlier perched secretively in one of the tire treads.
Fiction book (2000) -
She slid the note across the table secretively, hoping no one would notice.
Synonyms
261
1.4
In a way that other people do not know
174
3.2
In a way not shared with other people
56
2.5
In a way other people do not know
17
6.9
In a secret way so other people do not know
17
8.3
To do something secretly to avoid being noticed
10
4.4
In a private way so no one else knows
9
7.8
In a secret way so other people do not know
8
5.7
In a quiet, secret way to avoid being seen
5
6.8
In a way that tries not to be seen or heard
4
8.0
In a secret way to avoid being seen or found
2
4.9
In a secret way so other people do not notice
To act in a secret way so people do not notice you
In a secret or suspicious way
Antonyms
How Secretive
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Secretively comes from secret meaning 'hidden' plus the endings -ive and -ly that turn it into a word about how something is done. So, to act secretively is to do something quietly or in a way that hides your actions, like someone glancing at a note and trying not to be seen.