stalk

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈstȯk 

1

: a slender upright object or supporting or connecting part

especially : peduncle

2

a

: the main stem of an herbaceous plant often with its dependent parts

b

: a part of a plant (such as a petiole or stipe) that supports another

stalked

ˈstȯkt 

adjective

stalkless

ˈstȯk-ləs 

adjective

stalky

ˈstȯ-kē 

adjective

stalk

2 of 3

verb

stalked; stalking; stalks

intransitive verb

1

: to pursue quarry or prey stealthily

2

: to walk stiffly or haughtily

transitive verb

1

: to pursue by stalking

2

: to go through (an area) in search of prey or quarry

stalk the woods for deer

3

: to pursue obsessively and to the point of harassment

stalking a celebrity

stalk

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: the act of stalking

2

: a stalking gait

Synonyms of stalk

Verb

• hunt
• chase

Examples of stalk in a Sentence

Verb

a movie about a detective being stalked by a killer

This is the time of year when hunters are stalking the woods for deer.

She called the police because her ex-boyfriend was stalking her.

She angrily stalked out of the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Serve garnished with a lemon or lime wedge or a celery stalk. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

His business partner Théophile Pourriat shared the news in a post on the restaurant’s Instagram account on July 4, sharing an image of Grébaut holding stalks of wheat in a field under blue skies. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Verb

Jones rejected his plea deal on July 2, 2024, for being too lenient for stalking and shooting a woman at least four times in November 2022, which sparked a tirade against the judge, court documents allege. — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Outrage continues to grow after a drone was reported stalking a terrified wild mustang on North Carolina’s northern Outer Banks. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English stalke; akin to Old English stela stalk, support

Verb

Middle English, from Old English bestealcian; akin to Old English stelan to steal — more at steal

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stalk

• yolk stalk

Rhymes for stalk

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

stalk

1 of 3 noun

ˈstȯk 

1

: a slender upright object or supporting or connecting structure

the stalk of a goblet

2

: a plant stem especially of a plant that is not woody

stalks of asparagus

stalked

ˈstȯkt 

adjective

stalky

ˈstȯ-kē 

adjective

stalk

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to hunt slowly and quietly

stalk deer

b

: to go through (an area) in search of prey

stalk the woods for deer

2

: to walk in a stiff or proud manner

stalked out of the room

3

: to pursue obsessively and to the point of harassment

stalker noun

stalk

3 of 3 noun

1

: the act of stalking

2

: a stalking manner of walking

Medical Definition

stalk

noun

ˈstȯk 

: a slender supporting or connecting part : peduncle

the pituitary stalk

stalked

ˈstȯkt 

adjective

stalkless adjective

Legal Definition

stalk

transitive verb

ˈstȯk

: to subject to stalking

intransitive verb

: to engage in stalking

stalker noun