hunt
13 synonyms and 0 antonyms for hunt, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To chase and kill wild animals for food or sport.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use hunt
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English huntian, "to hunt," from a Proto-Germanic root possibly connected to an Indo-European word meaning "to catch or seize."
Full origin of hunt →Frequently asked questions
What does “hunt” mean?
The word “hunt” means to chase and kill wild animals for food or sport. In plain terms, to chase animals to kill them, or more generally, to search hard for something.
How do you pronounce “hunt”?
“Hunt” is pronounced huhnt (/hʌnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “hunt” in a sentence?
Here is “hunt” used in a sentence: “Wolves hunt in packs to bring down larger prey.”
What part of speech is “hunt”?
Depending on how it is used, “hunt” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hunt” come from?
The word “hunt” comes from Old English. From Old English huntian, "to hunt," from a Proto-Germanic root possibly connected to an Indo-European word meaning "to catch or seize.".
Is “hunt” a common word?
“Hunt” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hunt” have?
“Hunt” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to chase and kill wild animals for food or sport.
What is the difference between hunting and poaching?
Hunting is chasing and killing wild animals, typically within the law and its seasons, licences and limits. Poaching is hunting illegally — taking animals without permission, out of season, or where it is banned. The act can look the same; the difference is whether it breaks the law.
Does hunt only mean to kill animals?
No. Hunt has a common second sense: to search hard for something, as in "hunt for your keys" or "job hunting." Here it keeps the idea of pursuit but drops the killing. Context makes clear whether someone is hunting deer or hunting for a bargain.
What are the types of hunting?
Hunting takes many forms, often named for the quarry or method — deer hunting, bird or game hunting, fox hunting, and bow or rifle hunting. It may be done for food, for sport, or to control animal populations, and the rules vary widely from place to place.