hunt
huhnt
Hunt (verb) means to chase and kill wild animals for food or sport. Example: “Wolves hunt in packs to bring down larger prey.”
verb
1
To chase and kill wild animals for food or sport.
"Wolves hunt in packs to bring down larger prey."
"Owls hunt at night, using their sharp hearing to find mice."
"My uncle goes into the forest each autumn to hunt rabbits."
2
To search thoroughly for something.
"She hunted through every drawer for her passport."
"Detectives hunted through the files for any clue about the missing letter."
"We are hunting for a cheap flat near the station."
noun
1
The act or expedition of hunting.
"The hunt lasted all morning before they spotted any deer."
"Early the next morning, the hunt began deep in the forest."
"Local rules limit the annual hunt to a few days each year."
How to use hunt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo chase animals to kill them, or more generally, to search hard for something.
Common pairings
hunt for a job
go hunting
hunt down
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Word forms
- Plural
- hunts
- Third person singular
- hunts
- Past tense
- hunted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Wolves _____ in packs to bring down larger prey.
Etymology
From Old English huntian, "to hunt," from a Proto-Germanic root possibly connected to an Indo-European word meaning "to catch or seize."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for hunt
See all rhymes for 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.
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