hunted; hunting; hunts
1
a
: to pursue for food or in sport
hunt buffalo
b
: to manage in the search for game
hunts a pack of dogs
2
a
: to pursue with intent to capture
hunted the escapees
b
: to search out : seek
3
: to drive or chase especially by harrying
members … were hunted from their homes—
J. T. Adams
J. T. Adams4
: to traverse in search of prey
hunts the woods
1
: to take part in a hunt
2
: to attempt to find something
3
: to oscillate alternately to each side (as of a neutral point) or to run alternately faster and slower
—used especially of a device or machine
Synonyms
Examples of hunt in a Sentence
Verb
The wolf was hunting its prey.
These birds have been hunted almost to extinction.
a gun used for hunting squirrels
He likes to hunt and fish.
She hunted around in the closet for a pair of shoes.
Police hunted the escaped prisoners through several states.
Noun
They went on a hunt.
We finally found a good restaurant after a long hunt.
Recent Examples on the WebJenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 9 May 2024
They were hunted to functional extinction in the United States, and their populations were reduced in Central America.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 9 May 2024
In Franklin’s day the village of Coppermine was only a camping area for Eskimos on hunting and fishing forays.
—Tom Hinman, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2024
This wasn’t the first time my daughter and I had hunted together.
—Alice Jones Webb, Field & Stream, 8 May 2024
The club itself said puppies learn best by hunting one-to-one with their owners, not with other dogs.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 3 May 2024
For ages, humans have ridden on horses, hunted alongside dogs, and curled up with cats, big and small.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024
After all, humans have been hunting deer more than mice.
—Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 27 Mar. 2024
The group also is recommending that other state licensures — including hunting and fishing licenses — be included for jury-duty eligibility.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Sarah Wood González, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
This is the first year the hunt has been offered at a Fourth Fridays Art Walk.
To be entered to win a $25 gift card to downtown Lee’s Summit businesses, find and fill out info on seven of the 10 sculptures by 8 p.m., Fitch said.
—Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
After surviving the hunt, Natalie is anointed the new leader of the group by Lottie as she is picked to wear the antler crown.
—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
The agency is accepting public comment on the antlerless hunt through April 28.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 17 Apr. 2024
The hunt will last for 16 days next December, according to a radio interview with the LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks conducted last fall.
—Ryan Chelius, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2024
Tasked with finding the cause, Scales must wrestle with her own family history and worldview as her hunt unearths a danger that threatens both Wiley City and Ashtown.
—Diya Chacko, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
The hunt for T’Montez Hurt, a 19-year-old college student from St. Louis who went missing in Kansas City in February, brought out nearly a dozen volunteers on Saturday.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024
Lucy joins up with the Ghoul/Cooper on his hunt for Hank, and Maximus survives a grisly bullet wound.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
Nell Reed continued returning to the ranch after James' death, hunting and visiting with guests.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 9 May 2024
They were hunted to functional extinction in the United States, and their populations were reduced in Central America.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 9 May 2024
In Franklin’s day the village of Coppermine was only a camping area for Eskimos on hunting and fishing forays.
—Tom Hinman, Outdoor Life, 8 May 2024
This wasn’t the first time my daughter and I had hunted together.
—Alice Jones Webb, Field & Stream, 8 May 2024
The club itself said puppies learn best by hunting one-to-one with their owners, not with other dogs.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 3 May 2024
For ages, humans have ridden on horses, hunted alongside dogs, and curled up with cats, big and small.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2024
After all, humans have been hunting deer more than mice.
—Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 27 Mar. 2024
The group also is recommending that other state licensures — including hunting and fishing licenses — be included for jury-duty eligibility.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Noun
With all the focus on the wedding, the apartment hunt had fallen to the back burner.
—Sarah Wood González, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
This is the first year the hunt has been offered at a Fourth Fridays Art Walk.
To be entered to win a $25 gift card to downtown Lee’s Summit businesses, find and fill out info on seven of the 10 sculptures by 8 p.m., Fitch said.
—Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024
After surviving the hunt, Natalie is anointed the new leader of the group by Lottie as she is picked to wear the antler crown.
—Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
The agency is accepting public comment on the antlerless hunt through April 28.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 17 Apr. 2024
The hunt will last for 16 days next December, according to a radio interview with the LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks conducted last fall.
—Ryan Chelius, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2024
Tasked with finding the cause, Scales must wrestle with her own family history and worldview as her hunt unearths a danger that threatens both Wiley City and Ashtown.
—Diya Chacko, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
The hunt for T’Montez Hurt, a 19-year-old college student from St. Louis who went missing in Kansas City in February, brought out nearly a dozen volunteers on Saturday.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024
Lucy joins up with the Ghoul/Cooper on his hunt for Hank, and Maximus survives a grisly bullet wound.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hunt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hunt
Cite this Entry
“Hunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunt. Accessed 12 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hunt
1 of 2 verb1
a
: to seek out and chase (game) for food or sport
hunt squirrel
b
: to use in hunting game
hunts a pack of dogs
2
a
: to chase in order to capture
b
: to search out : look for : seek
hunting for my gloves
3
: to drive or chase especially by repeated attacks
hunt a criminal out of town
4
: to search through looking for prey
hunts the woods
hunt
2 of 2 noun1
: the action, the practice, or an instance of hunting
2
: a group of hunters
especially
: a group of hunters on horseback and their hunting dogs
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