prowl

verb \ ˈprau̇(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: prowl in a Sentence

Definition of prowl

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

—

prowler

play \ˈprau̇-lər\ noun

See prowl defined for English-language learners

See prowl defined for kids

Examples of prowl in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of prowl from the Web

Before there was Twitter and Instagram, team employees were known to prowl the message boards and forums of websites.

— sarah todd, Philly.com, "Burner accounts aren't new, it's the content in tweets linked to Bryan Colangelo that is shocking," 31 May 2018
In Peru’s Candamo Valley, one of South America’s most remote pieces of rainforest, wild jaguars still prowl the forest.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Can the Jaguars’ Unique Biology Help It Survive On Our Over-Populated Planet?," 22 May 2018
Between April 1974 and December 1975, the Visalia Ransacker prowled this small town's streets and burglarized about 100 homes, local police said.

— benjamin oreskes, latimes.com, "Golden State Killer suspect may be linked to earlier Cordova cat burglar attacks," 10 May 2018
All the while, Aunt Lydia prowls around the edges, threatening retribution should June step out of line again.

— caroline framke, Vox, "The Handmaid’s Tale is as horrific as it’s ever been in “Other Women”," 9 May 2018
In a Facebook post warning citizens about the game, Police said Paranoia has caused multiple reports of reckless driving, suspicious persons or vehicles, prowling, trespassing and public nudity.

— elliot hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Franklin teens waging squirt-gun war in the nude, police say," 7 May 2018
According to the World Nuclear Association, about 140 ships — mostly submarines, but also icebreakers and aircraft carriers — prowl the world's oceans.

— cleve r. wootson jr., Washington Post, "Russia says its sea-based nuclear power plant is safe. Critics call it a ‘Floating Chernobyl.’," 1 May 2018
According to the World Nuclear Association, about 140 ships — mostly submarines, but also icebreakers and aircraft carriers – prowl the world's oceans.

— author: cleve r. wootson jr., Anchorage Daily News, "Russia says its sea-based nuclear power plant is safe. Critics call it a ‘Floating Chernobyl’ for the Arctic.," 2 May 2018
More: ATVs prowl Detroit streets illegally, crashes on the rise More: Betrayed: Police seek man accused of stealing Last Supper tapestry from Madonna University Contact Brandon Patterson: BPatterson2@freepress.com.

— brandon patterson, Detroit Free Press, "Woman sexually assaulted outside Greektown bar on St. Patrick's Day," 27 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of prowl

Middle English prollen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

prowl

noun

Definition of prowl

: an act or instance of prowling

— 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

See prowl defined for English-language learners

Examples of prowl in a Sentence

a prowl through the bookshop

Recent Examples of prowl from the Web

Buyout firms are sitting on more than $1 trillion of cash, which poses a challenge with markets near all-time highs and big companies on the prowl for deals of their own.

— dana cimilluca, WSJ, "KKR Nears Deal to Buy Envision Healthcare," 10 June 2018
Miggy on the prowl Cabrera, who missed time with a right hamstring strain, is feeling more confident at the plate.

— chris nelsen, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Shane Greene on home run: 'Can't throw it there'," 9 June 2018
If the text is a bit dry—too much hole-by-hole description—the subject is timely, as the game is on the prowl for new ways to keep time-harried golfers involved.

— john paul newport, WSJ, "Summer Books: Golf," 23 May 2018
When Lucchino was on the prowl at Pads offices, Towers said, perhaps with exaggeration, that one of his own underlings was known to seek out an office plant.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "All this Padres losing wouldn't sit well with Kevin Towers," 11 May 2018
Not needing more than a few singles, an excellent bunt or two and some wildness on the mound and the defending Class 6A state champions are alive and well and on the prowl.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Deer Park completes series comeback to capture bi-district championship," 5 May 2018
About an hour later, police believe Canty, still on the prowl, broke into another woman's home and raped her at gunpoint.

— charles rabin and david j. neal, miamiherald, "Suspected serial rapist captured in Miami's Little Haiti, police say | Miami Herald," 2 May 2018
Car prowls are high due to people leaving purses, briefcases, backpacks and other items visible in their vehicles.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "New San Diego police captain aims for family culture," 18 Apr. 2018
The pair and their fellow volunteers are always on the prowl to find subjects.

— brian feldman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Honor Portraits to show veterans' photos at Cornell Art Museum," 11 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of prowl

1803

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

PROWL Defined for English Language Learners

prowl

verb

Definition of prowl for English Language Learners

of an animal : to move quietly through an area while hunting
: to move through a place or area especially while searching for something often in a quiet or secret way