prowl

1 of 2

verb

ˈprau̇(-ə)l 

prowled; prowling; prowls

intransitive verb

: to move about or wander stealthily in or as if in search of prey

transitive verb

: to roam over in a predatory manner

prowl

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of prowling

Phrases

on the prowl

: in the act of prowling

also : in search of something

his fourth wife had just left him, and he was on the prowl again

—Mary McCarthy

Examples of prowl in a Sentence

Verb

a tiger prowling in the jungle

He moved like a tiger prowling the jungle.

The police were prowling the streets in their patrol cars.

He liked to prowl the streets late at night.

I prowled the store looking for sales.

I prowled through the store looking for sales.

Noun

a prowl through the bookshop

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

On the night of the album debut, Beamon nervously prowled The Cutting Room’s floor. —Les Carpenter, Washington Post, 12 July 2024

According to the prosecution, Woll's front door was open when Jackson-Bolanos was prowling through her Lafayette Park neighborhood in Detroit in the early morning hours of Oct. 21, 2023. —Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2024

Noun

With the deadly Night Stalker serial killer on the prowl and Maxine's trauma still haunting her, will this be our final girl's finale? —Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2024

The Panthers will be on the prowl for six games between March 11-22. —Jackson Castellano, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English prollen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1803, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing prowl

• on the prowl
• prowl car

Kids Definition

prowl

verb

ˈprau̇(ə)l

1

: to move about or wander in a secretive manner in or as if in search of prey

2

: to roam over like a wild beast

prowl the streets

prowl noun

prowler noun