noun

hawk

HAWK

noun

A medium-sized bird of prey that hunts other animals from the air.

"A hawk circled slowly above the field, watching for movement."

A person who supports an aggressive or forceful stance, especially in politics or economics.

"The senator was known as a foreign-policy hawk."

verb

To sell goods, especially in public, often calling out to draw attention.

"Vendors hawked souvenirs outside the stadium."

To clear the throat noisily, often to bring up phlegm.

"He hawked and spat before starting his speech."

How to Use Hawk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often the bird of prey; also used for someone who favours tough, aggressive action, especially in politics.

Easily confused with

hock →

Common pairings

hawk-eyed war hawk hawk and dove

Word Forms

hawked past tense, hawked past tense, hawked past tense, hawks plural, hawks plural, hawks plural, Hawks plural, hawks singular, hawks singular, hawks singular

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ circled slowly above the field, watching for movement.

Etymology

From Old English hafoc, from a very old Germanic word possibly meaning "to seize" — hawks being named for how they catch their prey.

Rhymes for hawk

gawk Mohawk squawk seahawk tomahawk nighthawk

See all rhymes for hawk →