hunting
9 synonyms for hunting, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The activity of pursuing and killing wild animals for food, sport, or their parts.
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.
the chase
the hunt
game hunting
How to use hunting
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
go hunting
house hunting
hunting season
hunting for a job
Etymology
From Old English huntung, the -ing form of hunt.
Full origin of hunting →Frequently asked questions
What does “hunting” mean?
The word “hunting” means the activity of pursuing and killing wild animals for food, sport, or their parts. In plain terms, chasing after game, or more broadly, actively searching for something you want to find.
How do you pronounce “hunting”?
“Hunting” is pronounced HUHN-tihng (/ˈhʌntɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hunting” in a sentence?
Here is “hunting” used in a sentence: “They went hunting for deer at dawn.”
What part of speech is “hunting”?
“Hunting” is a noun.
Where does the word “hunting” come from?
The word “hunting” comes from Old English. From Old English huntung, the -ing form of hunt.
Is “hunting” a common word?
“Hunting” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hunting” have?
“Hunting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the activity of pursuing and killing wild animals for food, sport, or their parts.
What is the difference between hunting and poaching?
Hunting is the legal, regulated pursuit of wild animals during set seasons, with licenses and limits designed to manage populations. Poaching is illegal hunting — taking animals out of season, without a permit, on protected land, or of protected species. The key difference is that hunting follows the law and poaching breaks it.
What are the main types of hunting?
Hunting is often grouped by target and method. Big-game hunting pursues large animals like deer or elk; bird or wildfowl hunting targets ducks and pheasants; and small-game hunting covers rabbits and similar animals. Methods include bow hunting, rifle hunting, and hunting with dogs or falcons.
Why do people hunt?
People hunt for several reasons. Historically and still today, many hunt for food, harvesting wild meat. Others hunt for sport or recreation, valuing the skill and the outdoors. Hunting is also used to manage wildlife numbers and protect crops, and some hunt for animal products such as hides or antlers.
