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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

furtive

/ˈfɝtɪv/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does furtive mean?

adjective

  1. Of a thing: done with evasive or guilty secrecy.
  2. Of a thing: that has been acquired by theft; stolen; also (generally) taken stealthily.
  3. Of a person or an animal: sly, stealthy.
More meanings (1)

adjective

  1. Of a person, etc.: inclined to steal; pilfering, thieving.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈfɝtɪv/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

He smiled brilliantly in answer to the furtive, half-sullen, half-curious glance she stole at him, as she brought the dishes in.
Harold FredericThe Damnation of Theron WareProject Gutenberg ebook #133
She took little note of what was happening, though occasional, furtive glances gave intimation of her knowledge of the nurse's presence.
Robert S. (Robert Sproul) CarrollOur Nervous Friends — Illustrating the Mastery of NervousnessProject Gutenberg ebook #5994
More book examples (3)
In the first place, it was a furtive, underhand blow at this nonsense of knight errantry, though nobody suspected that but me.
Mark TwainA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtProject Gutenberg ebook #86
The females were less numerous than the males, and liable to much furtive persecution in spite of the monogamy the Law enjoined.
H. G. (Herbert George) WellsThe island of Doctor MoreauProject Gutenberg ebook #159
She had always thought of love as something confused and furtive, and he made it as bright and open as the summer air.
Edith WhartonSummerProject Gutenberg ebook #166