Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - suspicious

1. If you are suspicious of someone or something, you do not trust them, and are careful when dealing with them. He was rightly suspicious of meeting me until I reassured him I was not writing about him... He has his father’s suspicious nature. ADJ: oft ADJ of n/-ing • suspiciously ‘What is it you want me to do?’ Adams asked suspiciously. ADJ: ADV after v 2. If you are suspicious of someone or something, you believe that they are probably involved in a crime or some dishonest activity. Two officers on patrol became suspicious of two men in a car... A woman kept prisoner in a basement was rescued after suspicious neighbours tipped off police. ADJ: oft ADJ of n 3. If you describe someone or something as suspicious, you mean that there is some aspect of them which makes you think that they are involved in a crime or a dishonest activity. He reported that two suspicious-looking characters had approached Callendar... ADJ • suspiciously They’ll question them as to whether anyone was seen acting suspiciously in the area over the last few days... Police were told to arrest voters found with suspiciously large sums of money in their pockets. ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj/adv 4. see also suspiciously