acechar

to lurk

verb ah-seh-CHAHR Rare

Also means

to spy on

Usage Note

Acechar means to watch or wait in hiding, especially with hostile or predatory intent — it is stronger than merely 'to watch' and implies concealment and menace. Do not confuse it with acosar (to harass) or aceitar (to oil); the spelling acechar (not asechar) is standard. The noun acecho appears in the phrase al acecho ('on the lookout', 'lying in wait').

Examples

"El depredador acechaba a su presa en silencio."

Natural Translation

The predator silently stalked its prey.

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