hunt

1 of 2

verb

ˈhənt 

hunted; hunting; hunts

transitive verb

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

4

: to traverse in search of prey

hunts the woods

intransitive verb

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

hunt

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act, the practice, or an instance of hunting

2

: a group of mounted hunters and their hunting dogs

Synonyms

Verb

• chase
• stalk

Noun

• quest
• search

Example Sentences

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

James hunted mismatches and attacked them with consistent force. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023

Launched in December, the Lunar Flashlight was supposed to hunt for ice in the shadowed craters of the lunar south pole. —Marcia Dunn, ajc, 12 May 2023

But these sharks do venture into deep, chilly water to hunt. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 11 May 2023

Which breeds have won at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Terriers were originally bred to hunt vermin, but now stalk best in show medals at Westminster. —Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 9 May 2023

Is a large, hairy beast with pointy teeth and sharp claws hunting you for its dinner? —The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2023

The geologists were hunting for major deposits of the minerals needed to power a clean-energy future. —Josh Goldman, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2023

Since carnivorous plants cannot move to hunt for their prey like a lion or a shark, smells can help them not only find food, but communicate with other plants. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2023

Ski resorts abound, as well as hunting trails, with superb fishing grounds. —John Mariani, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023

Noun

The episodes also breathed well and did not get bogged down in too many advantages and idol hunts. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 May 2023

As graduation season approaches, young people are bracing themselves for the usual job hunt that awaits them on the other side of commencement ceremonies. —Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 17 May 2023

Advertisement Officials in Hopewell Township have told residents to stay on the hunt for other fragments. —Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023

Others have come with me on my hunts for the past decade or more. —Nancy Jo Adams, Popular Mechanics, 11 May 2023

That sets off an obsessive hunt when Dellrayne appears to vanish into thin air off the top of a tall building after using some kind of mind control on Rourke’s law enforcement colleagues. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023

But in 2019, the state expanded the boundaries of the swan hunt, and increased the quota by 750 permits. —Andrew Mckean, Outdoor Life, 10 May 2023

Clues about extremism emerge in hunt for motive While the assailant’s motive remains unclear, authorities are investigating whether he was driven by extremist ideologies, a law enforcement source told CNN. —Holly Yan, CNN, 9 May 2023

Because dove hunting is primarily a pass-shooting hunt, a 28-inch barrel helps the gun to swing smoothly. —Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 4 May 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English huntian; akin to Old English hentan to seize

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hunt

• hunt down
• hunt-and-peck
• in the hunt
• on the hunt
• scavenger hunt
• still hunt
• treasure hunt
• witch hunt
• hunt out
• hunt up

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• hunt down
• hunt-and-peck
• in the hunt
• on the hunt
• scavenger hunt
• still hunt
• treasure hunt
• witch hunt
• hunt out
• hunt up

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Kids Definition

hunt

1 of 2 verb

ˈhənt 

1

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 noun

1

: 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

Biographical Definition

Hunt 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

ˈhənt 

(James Henry) Leigh 1784–1859 English writer

Hunt

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Sir R(ichard) Timothy 1943–     British molecular biologist

Hunt

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

(William) Hol*man ˈhōl-mən  1827–1910 English painter