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

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 Web

Verb

It’s been a constant search for fixes, working on delivery posture, mixing in a new sinker and hunting for fastball command. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 15 June 2025

Lindsey McGinnis/The Christian Science Monitor In 2014, the village government passed a regulation banning bird hunting in Jatimulyo, home to at least 99 bird species, including four that are considered vulnerable or endangered. —Lindsey McGinnis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025

Noun

The joint local, state and federal multi-jurisdictional hunt for Decker entered day 15 after deputies discovered the girls' bodies on June 2 at Rock Island Campground. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 18 June 2025

Her 2012 movie, Zero Dark Thirty, about the hunt for Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, won Best Sound Editing and grossed $132.8M at the global box office. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 June 2025

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

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

Rhymes for hunt

• blunt
• brunt
• bunt
• front
• grunt
• shunt
• stunt
• affront
• confront
• exeunt
• forefront
• lakefront

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