lurking

UK: /ˈlɜːkɪŋ/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lurking / ˈlɜːkɪŋ/ adjective

1. lingering and persistent, though unsuspected or unacknowledged: a lurking suspicion

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lurk /lɜrk/   v. [no object]

1. to lie or wait in hiding:
   lurked in the bushes waiting to pounce.
2. to exist without being seen, suspected, or detected:
   We didn't see the dangers that lurked in our experiments.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lurk  (lûrk), v.i. 

1. to lie or wait in concealment, as a person in ambush;
   remain in or around a place secretly or furtively.
2. to go furtively;
   slink;
   steal.
3. to exist unperceived or unsuspected.
4. [Chiefly Computers.] to observe an ongoing discussion without participating in it.

n. Australian Informal. 

5. British Terms an underhand scheme;
   dodge.
6. British Terms an easy, somewhat lazy or unethical way of earning a living, performing a task, etc.
7. British Terms a hideout.

• 1250–1300; Middle English lurken, frequentative of lower²; compare Norwegian lurka to sneak away

lurk′er, n. 
lurk′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. Lurk, skulk, sneak, prowl suggest avoiding observation, often because of a sinister purpose. To lurk is to lie in wait for someone or to hide about a place, often without motion, for periods of time.
  Skulk suggests cowardliness and stealth of movement.
  Sneak emphasizes the attempt to avoid being seen. It has connotations of slinking and of an abject meanness of manner, whether there exists a sinister intent or the desire to avoid punishment for some misdeed.
  Prowl implies the definite purpose of seeking for prey; it suggests continuous action in roaming or wandering, slowly and quietly but watchfully, as a cat that is hunting mice.

lurk, +v.i. 

1. Computing [Chiefly Computers.] to observe an ongoing discussion without participating in it.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lurk / lɜːk/ verb (mainly intr)

1. to move stealthily or be concealed, esp for evil purposes
2. to be present in an unobtrusive way; go unnoticed
3. to read messages posted on an electronic network without contributing messages oneself
4. (transitive) to view the social media posts of (someone) on a regular basis without communicating with him or her

noun

1. an act or instance of lurking
2. a scheme or stratagem for success

Etymology: 13th Century: probably frequentative of lour; compare Middle Dutch loeren to lie in wait

ˈlurker noun