hound

noun \ ˈhau̇nd \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of hound

1 a : dog

b : a dog of any of numerous hunting breeds including both scent hounds (such as the bloodhound and beagle) and sight hounds (such as the greyhound and Afghan hound)

2 : a mean or despicable person

3 : dogfish

4 : a person who pursues like a hound; especially : one who avidly seeks or collects something

autograph hounds

See hound defined for English-language learners

See hound defined for kids

Examples of hound in a Sentence

in the yard an old hound greeted us with a single bark
a camera hound even before the baby arrived, he's now become obsessive

Recent Examples of hound from the Web

And last, but certainly not least, is Queen Mercia’s loyal and majestic hound, Caesar.

— patricia hernandez, The Verge, "Oh my god, Wargroove is gonna let you play as a dog commander," 7 June 2018
The hound home was prepared to provide end of life care to Bliss, initially thinking her skull tumor was fatal.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "Shelter Dog Abandoned by Owner Because of Rare Skull Tumor Gets Second Chance Thanks to 3D Printing," 30 May 2018
Only Trump, an old-school media hound who still cares about things like magazine covers and leathery-faced 90s-era TV personalities, has figured it out.

— peter hamby, The Hive, "“That Is What Power Looks Like”: As Trump Prepares for 2020, Democrats Are Losing the Only Fight That Matters," 26 May 2018
Alan Myers of the state's Fish & Wildlife Police says agents using a hound-dog tracker shot and killed the cougar shortly before 3 p.m., the Seattle Times reported.

— Fox News, "The Latest: Officials say cougar in fatal attack was shot," 19 May 2018
The program has undergone various changes but has always been focused on helping the hounds and, along the way, their humans.

— holly v. hays, The Seattle Times, "Indiana inmates prepare greyhounds for life beyond racing," 20 Apr. 2018
The program has undergone various changes but has always been focused on helping the hounds and, along the way, their humans.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "These greyhounds are adorable. The prisoners think so, too.," 9 Apr. 2018
Texas Rangers first-base coach Steve Buechele popped out of the clubhouse during the pregame parade around the warning track and took a look at the hounds.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: 'Electric stuff' for six innings. Here's why that's key for Minor, Rangers | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 7 Apr. 2018
Using a hound-dog tracker, agents for the state's Fish & Wildlife Police shot and killed the cougar a little before 3 p.m., said Capt.

— author: erik lacitis, Anchorage Daily News, "1 dead, 1 injured in cougar attack east of Seattle," 20 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hound.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hound

Middle English, from Old English hund; akin to Old High German hunt dog, Latin canis, Greek kyōn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

hound Synonyms

hound

verb

Definition of hound

hounded; hounding; hounds

transitive verb

1 : to pursue with or as if with hounds

2 : to drive or affect by persistent harassing

—

hounder

noun

See hound defined for English-language learners

Examples of hound in a Sentence

He is being hounded by the press.
They hounded me with questions.
They hounded me for my autograph.
hound a politician out of office

Recent Examples of hound from the Web

The prince has also overhauled the state security police, recruiting former Egyptian officers to hound dissidents.

— The Economist, "The calculations of Muhammad bin Salman," 7 June 2018
Jackson was hounded by 11 first-half turnovers that contributed to Bondy owning a 15-5 lead after one period and a 28-15 lead through two.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Bondy boys secure 8th-grade Light championship," 26 Jan. 2018
These credits were allegedly marketed as grants, but debt collectors hounded students for the money even after ITT filed for bankruptcy in September 2016.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "ITT Tech students get a shot at claiming school's remaining assets," 25 Jan. 2018
James added another iconic moment to his remarkable playoff run this season, taking the ball the length of the court with Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby hounding him.

— jeff zillgitt, USA TODAY, "Inside LeBron James' epic game-winning shot in Game 3 vs. the Raptors," 6 May 2018
The mom explained in the comments that her child was riding in a shopping cart at Target and eating a sandwich when she was stopped by a woman and hounded over the dangers of peanut allergies.

— scott berson, charlotteobserver, "Mom called 'inconsiderate' and 'disgusting' for letting kid eat peanut butter in Target | Charlotte Observer," 12 Apr. 2018
With less than a minute to play and the Friars ahead, 44-43, Wong, a 6-3 junior, dribbled the ball just below the midcourt logo while guarded by Justin Anderson, the Carroll senior who had hounded him much of the night.

— aaron carter, Philly.com, "Bonner-Prendie advances to Catholic League championship," 21 Feb. 2018
An alt-right account @AltIvyW is hounding Sam for her show Dear White People, calling Sam racist for its premise.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Dear White People Season 2 Binge Club: Episodes 1 - 3 Recaps," 4 May 2018
The grassroots activists' favorite For much of 2017, anti-Trump activists with the group Indivisible hounded Tiberi, pressing him to hold open town-hall meetings and defend the Affordable Care Act.

— chrissie thompson, Cincinnati.com, "Who's who in the crowded special election for Ohio's 12th District in Congress," 28 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of hound

1528

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

hound Synonyms

Synonyms

bird-dog, chase, course, dog, follow, pursue, run, shadow, tag, tail, trace, track, trail;

Antonyms

guide, lead, pilot;

Near Antonyms

head;

hunt, search (for), seek;

eye, observe, watch;

Phrases

run after;

Synonym Discussion of hound

bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound mean to harass by efforts to break down. bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

- baited the chained dog

badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

- badgered her father for a car

heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

- drunks heckled the stand-up comic

hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

- football players hectored by their coach

chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

- chivied the new student mercilessly

hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

- hounded by creditors

HOUND Defined for English Language Learners

hound

noun

Definition of hound for English Language Learners

: a dog; especially : a type of dog that has a very good sense of smell and is trained to hunt
: a person who is very determined to get something especially for a collection : a very enthusiastic collector