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appostare

to lie in wait

verb ah-pohs-TAH-reh Rare
People & Society Crime

Also means

to stake out

Usage Note

Appostare means to place someone in ambush or to stake out a position for surveillance. The reflexive appostarsi is more common: si è appostato dietro l'angolo (he hid around the corner waiting). It takes avere (transitive) or essere (reflexive). Common in crime reporting and hunting contexts.

Examples

"I fotografi si erano appostati fuori dall'albergo."

Natural Translation

The photographers had staked out the hotel entrance.

Literal Translation

The photographers themselves were-positioned outside the hotel.

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