prowl

play

verb \ˈprau̇(-ə)l\

Definition of prowl

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

LONGUTE, South Sudan — In this village near the Ugandan border, vultures constantly hover in the sky and dogs prowl the streets.

— tonny onyulo, USA TODAY, "In South Sudan, every male child is a soldier in devastating civil war", 5 July 2017
A man who was shot in the leg during a dispute with another man on Capitol Hill early Thursday morning may have been prowling cars, Seattle police say.

— seattle times staff, The Seattle Times, "Man shot in leg near Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park", 15 June 2017
Music blares from speakers, robot golf bags prowl the wider aisles.

— tom chiarella, Popular Mechanics, "The Keepers of the Game", 14 June 2017
Cat prowled beneath the shelf, but had no way to reach my little fish.

— elisabeth egan, chicagotribune.com, "Algren Award finalist: "Water like air" by Rebecca Wurtz", 10 June 2017
Gunshots echoed through the town at night and soldiers were said to prowl the streets, looting and raping.

— Washington Post, "South Sudan refugees recall horrific sexual assaults", 9 June 2017
Arrested Saturday, Saintmelus, 19, and Young, 20, each are being held without bond in the Broward Main Jail on more than a dozen charges apiece including prowling, robbery with a weapon and wearing a mask while committing a felony, records show.

— tonya alanez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Young robber wore Spiderman hoodie during 7-Eleven stick up", 6 June 2017
Officers saw the occupants prowling in parked cars, Westlake police Capt.

— kaylee remington, cleveland.com, "Four arrested after police chase ends in crash in Westlake", 1 June 2017
Russians are fond of saying Americans believe there are bears prowling the streets of Moscow, which suggests Americans are actually thinking about Russia.

— peter savodnik, The Hive, "Even the Russians Are Scared to Death for America!", 26 May 2017

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!

First Known Use: 14th century

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

Because Instagram can be a bona fide playground for internet bullies on the prowl, its developers have released two new tools designed to make the social-media platform a friendlier place.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "This New Instagram Tool Silences Internet Bullies", 30 June 2017
But a study published in 2011 found that 88 percent of bear attacks were by male black bears on the prowl for food.

— sarah gibbens, National Geographic, "Two Rare Black Bear Attacks Show Rise in Conflict With People", 20 June 2017
There’s nothing better than witnessing the unharnessed aggression of a hungry bass on the prowl.

— jordan rodriguez, idahostatesman, "Attack of Gillzilla — my run-in with a monstrous bluegill at Halverson Lake", 6 June 2017
Whereas the vanguardist movement that won is on the prowl for new comrades, the anti-vanguardist movement that lost is looking for people to blame.

— michael tomasky, New Republic, "Elitism Is Liberalism’s Biggest Problem", 30 May 2017
Katey Sagal’s on-the-prowl divorcee now gets a number, Fever (one of a handful of old/new songs unnecessarily shoehorned into the score).

— robert bianco, USA TODAY, "Review: ABC's 'Dirty Dancing' is a time of your life you'll never get back", 23 May 2017
Erika Hahne, a high school parent liaison, who lives in Boogaloo territory, warns festival-goers that ticket-givers and tow trucks will be on the prowl.

— NOLA.com, "Should you Bayou Boogaloo? Yes, newbies, you should!", 16 May 2017
Those who are on the prowl for a more luggage-friendly option will appreciate the Island Hopping Hat.

— alexis bennett, PEOPLE.com, "Attention All Lilly Pulitzer Fans: The Brand Just Launched Adorable New Hats for Summer You Don’t Want to Miss", 8 May 2017
The dry conditions — on the mend now — make food scarce in the forest and sends bears on the prowl to satisfy a daily caloric intake equivalent to 80 cheeseburgers, sometimes breaking into cars and homes.

— Washington Post, "Nevada biologist sues bear activists for defamation", 6 May 2017

First Known Use of prowl

1803

PROWL Defined for English Language Learners

prowl

play

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

prowl

noun

Definition of prowl for English Language Learners

: an act of moving through a place while searching for something : an act of prowling

PROWL Defined for Kids

prowl

play

verb \ˈprau̇l\

Definition of prowl for Students

prowled

;

prowling

: to move about quietly and secretly in hunting or searching Phoebe prowled through the house, examining the walls and carpet … — Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons