sneaked away

USAGE SUMMARY

"sneaked away" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It usually means to depart quickly and secretly. For example: Once he realized the police were coming, he quickly sneaked away and hid.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Finally, he sneaked away.

The Guardian

Wise and the Yankees acknowledged they had sneaked away with one.

The New York Times - Sports

Her mother then sneaked away and took her children to Selma.

The New York Times

He tells me he has often sneaked away to the city of Haifa for gigs.

The Guardian - Music

So Osman sneaked away from her family and took a bus ride through the Kenyan capital.

The Washington Post

They sneaked away in darkness late on December 23 last year.

The Guardian

I sneaked away to the lavatory (believing she would not notice).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When he sneaked away, he said, his unit did not appear to notice.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

I snuck away to audition for AMDA.

The New York Times

"Sometimes," she admitted, "we still sneak away".

The New York Times

It was a place they would sneak away to.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sneaked away" to describe a discreet or secret departure, especially when someone wants to avoid being noticed. It's suitable for informal and neutral contexts.

Common error

While "sneaked away" is common, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Consider more formal alternatives like "discreetly exited" or "secretly departed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sneaked away" functions as a phrasal verb indicating a clandestine or unobtrusive departure. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its use in describing various situations where someone leaves secretly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Sport

15%

Travel

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Sneaked away" is a common phrasal verb that signifies a quiet and secretive departure, often to avoid being noticed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. While it can be used in many scenarios, it's important to consider the register of your writing and choose more formal alternatives when appropriate. Alternatives like "slipped away" or "discreetly exited" might be better suited for professional or academic writing. Overall, "sneaked away" is a versatile and useful phrase for describing subtle departures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slipped away

Emphasizes a smooth, almost unnoticed departure.

stole away

Highlights the secretive and possibly illicit nature of the departure.

crept away

Suggests a cautious and quiet movement.

secretly departed

Focuses on the hidden aspect of leaving, more formal.

discreetly exited

Emphasizes the subtlety and lack of attention drawn during the departure.

quietly left

A more straightforward and less secretive way to describe leaving.

slinked off

Suggests a stealthy and perhaps somewhat shameful departure.

made an escape

Implies a sense of urgency or needing to get away from something.

vanished unnoticed

Highlights the lack of awareness surrounding the departure.

absconded

A formal term for leaving secretly, often to avoid legal consequences.

FAQs

What does "sneaked away" mean?

"Sneaked away" means to leave a place or situation quietly and secretly, usually to avoid being noticed.

What can I say instead of "sneaked away"?

You can use alternatives like "slipped away", "stole away", or "quietly left" depending on the specific context.

Is "snuck away" grammatically correct?

"Snuck away" is an alternative past tense of "sneak away" and is widely accepted, although "sneaked away" is traditionally considered the standard form. Both are commonly used.

How to use "sneaked away" in a sentence?

Example: "When the meeting got boring, he "sneaked away" to get coffee."