: to lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose
someone out there lurking in the shadows
b
: to move furtively or inconspicuously
shall I lurk about this country like a thief? Henry Fielding
c
: to persist in staying
the excitement of the first act still lurking in the air Richard Fletcher
Something about the smile lurking on Malfoy's face during the next week made Harry, Ron, and Hermione very nervous. J. K. Rowling
2
a
: to be concealed but capable of being discovered
specifically: to constitute a latent threat
What evil lurks in the hearts of men?
b
: to lie hidden
Malaria lurked in the marshes.
3
: to read messages without contributing on an Internet discussion forum (see forumsense 1c) (such as a newsgroup or chat room) or social media platform (such as Facebook or Twitter)
You can tweet as much as you want or lurk without comment, though consistent tweeting and audience engagement are key to attracting and keeping followers. Charlotte Abbott
lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.
suspicious men lurking in alleyways
skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.
something skulking in the shadows
slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.
slunk around the corner
sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.
sneaked out early
Example Sentences
She could tell there was someone out there lurking in the shadows. we caught a glimpse of someone lurking around the corner
Recent Examples on the WebFor example, APTs can lurk within other types of threats. Shira Shamban, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The threat of an authority figure’s disapproval might lurk in the background.Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022 There is also a fiendishness that can lurk within the hot potato ploy too. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 More, yet undiscovered, may lurk beneath the ground. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 15 Aug. 2022 The plot twists, broadly, around the idea that danger could lurk anywhere—a theme often referenced on Crime Junkie.ELLE, 11 Aug. 2022 Because APTs can lurk and attack anywhere in your systems and network, advanced persistent security (APS) must be equally present and persistent over the long term. Shira Shamban, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Similar powers lurk in the Big Ten, where Indiana and Maryland have each won national titles in the last 10 years. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2022 Fortunately, tragedy did not lurk — Blackwell had stumbled upon a movie crew — and her search ended in a one-in-a-million lucky happenstance. Bobby Caina Calvan, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English; akin to Middle High German lūren to lie in wait — more at lower