to wait or move secretly or stealthily, especially in order to do something bad or harmful.
A fox likes to lurk in the bushes waiting for rabbits.
The spy was lurking behind the door, listening to the conversation.
✦ From Middle English lurken, perhaps related to lour ('to look angry or sullen'), frequentative of Middle Low German lucken ('to sneak').
to wait or move in a secret way so that other people cannot see you, often to ambush or surprise.
A cat lurks behind the sofa, waiting to pounce on the yarn ball.
The spy lurks in the bushes outside the enemy building.
✦ From Middle English lurken (“to hide, lurk”), probably from Old Norse lurka (“to sneak”) or a related Scandinavian source.
to read and observe discussions in an online forum, chat room, or social media without posting or interacting.
Many people lurk on forums to learn without posting.
She prefers to lurk in chat rooms rather than chat.
to exist in an unknown place or state and have a potentially harmful effect later.
Danger always lurks beneath the surface of calm waters.
Unseen doubts lurk in the back of her mind about the decision.
to browse an online forum, chatroom, or social media without posting, commenting, or otherwise participating.
He lurks on gaming forums to stay updated without posting.
Many people lurk in Reddit communities just reading.
