Stealth means moving or acting in a way that avoids being noticed or detected. A cat stalking a bird uses stealth, placing each paw carefully and freezing when the bird looks up. A ninja in stories moves with stealth through shadowy hallways, making no sound that would alert guards.

The word captures that quality of being deliberately quiet, hidden, or hard to detect. When you try to sneak downstairs on Christmas morning without waking your parents, you're using stealth. Military aircraft designed with stealth technology have special shapes and materials that make them nearly invisible to radar.

Stealth requires patience and control. You can't rush when you need stealth; you have to move slowly, think ahead, and stay aware of your surroundings. A stealthy approach means choosing the indirect path, the quiet moment, the hidden route.

The word can describe both movement and approach. Someone might use stealth tactics in capture the flag, circling around through the woods instead of charging straight at the opponents' base. A company might operate in stealth mode when developing a secret new product they don't want competitors to know about yet.