Meaning & use
surveil
Last updated
To keep close watch over a person, place, or activity, typically to gather information.
See it in a sentence
Federal agents surveilled the warehouse for weeks before making an arrest.
The new software allows employers to surveil workers' computer activity.
A note on using this word
A relatively recent back-formation from "surveillance"; now widely accepted, especially in journalism and legal contexts.
Words with a similar meaning
monitorwatch
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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