Understanding Sneaked vs. Snuck (Definition and Examples)

What is the difference between sneaked vs. snuck? Are both referring to the plural form of the base word “sneak?” How are they used in American English?

Learn about the differences between these two words in this short English worksheet…

What is the plural form of “sneak?”

The word “sneak” has a correct plural form in English. The plural form of sneak is “sneaks.” The word has rather limited application, as is visible from its form.

The word “sneaks” primarily refers to an action that is repeatedly done. For example, “The mouse sneaks around often.”

For example:

• Rita sneaks out of her house every night after her parents are asleep. 
• John’s daughter sneaks him a piece of Apple pie each time it is made in their house. 

Since it refers to a repeated action, the plural form “sneaks” does not have variations based on tense.

What is the past tense of “sneak?”

The past tense version of the word “sneak” has not only one but two words. The words “snuck” and “sneaked” are both valid and universally accepted past tense words for the word “sneak”. Both these words can be used in sentences, and they would be grammatically correct in either case. 

For example: 

• She snuck into the house after everyone was asleep.
• She sneaked into the house after everyone was asleep. 
• I snuck in my assignment while the teacher was not looking.
• I sneaked in my assignment while the teacher was not looking.

Both these sentences are grammatically correct and display how the words snuck and sneaked can be used interchangeably.

While both the words are grammatically correct, there are some contexts in which snuck should not be used. For instance, if creating formal writing, the word “sneaked” should get used.

The word “sneaked” is more universally accepted. You can use it anywhere, and it will be correct. The word “snuck,” on the other hand, while correct, may not be considered correct in all forms of writing (like essays, for example).

Examples of “sneak” in sentences

Some examples of “sneak” in sentences can be as follows:

• If you sneak out one more time, I will punish you.
• Do not sneak out of the campus after hours. 
• She used to sneak out of class every chance she got. 
• I can sneak you in after everyone has left. 
• Can you sneak some dessert from the reception?

Examples of “snuck” in sentences

Some examples of the word “snuck” in sentences include: 

• I snuck into his apartment after his parents left. 
• I snuck into the class 5 minutes late and did not get caught. 
• I snuck into the bar without paying a cover charge.
• She snuck some popcorn in her bag without the movie hall security finding out.
• I snuck the medicine into my Dog’s food. 
• His butler snuck him some unhealthy food while he was on a diet.

How to remember which form to use

If you can’t remember which form of the past tense of “sneak” you should use, there is a simple rule to remember. The word “sneaked” can be used everywhere. This word has universal acceptance and application. In short, you cannot go wrong with the word “sneaked.” 

The word “snuck” is also technically acceptable to be used anywhere. However, there’s some debate around its legitimacy. The word “snuck” should be avoided in formal conversation or writing. 

Is it “sneak a peek” or “sneek a peak?”

Between “sneak a peek” and “sneek a peak,” the correct phrase is “sneak a peek”.

The phrase means getting a secret look at something before it is officially revealed. A stealthy glance or look at something that a person was not supposed to see or was not supposed to see until later.

The phrase “sneek a peak” is invalid because sneek is not a word. Secondly, the word “peak” is a homonym of the word “peek” and its meaning differs entirely. The word “peak” refers to the highest point of something. For example, a mountain peak.

On the other hand, the word “peek” means to see. Thus, the phrase “sneak a peek” is grammatically correct.