WordGarden.iohunt
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈʌnt/
US
- /ˈhənt/
Meanings
Verb
to pursue wild animals in order to catch or kill them
to search carefully for someone or something
Noun
an organized pursuit of wild animals
a careful search for someone or something
Beyond the definition
To hunt is not always about chasing animals. It often means to look for something in an active, determined way. A detective might hunt for clues at a crime scene, while a child might hunt for Easter eggs hidden in the garden. You can also hunt for bargains in a store or hunt for your keys when you are late. Sometimes the word does mean pursuing wild animals, but in everyday English it is used much more widely. It usually suggests effort, focus, and the feeling that finding the thing may take time.
The word "hunt" carries the image of tracking and catching, originally referring to the pursuit of wild animals for food or sport. However, over time, its meaning has grown far beyond that literal sense. To hunt now includes any determined search for something, whether it is a real object or an idea.
You might hunt through old boxes looking for lost photographs, hunt online for a rare book, or hunt for a solution to a difficult problem. The act of hunting implies effort, persistence, and often some excitement or hope. It suggests taking an active role in searching rather than waiting for the answer or object to appear.
The word can also be used figuratively to describe pursuing opportunities or experiences. "He's hunting for a new job" means he is actively looking for work. A "witch hunt" describes an unfair search for someone to blame, often based on weak evidence.
Historically, hunting was vital for survival, and the word still carries some of that force. Today, while many people never track game, the spirit of hunting, the drive to seek and find, remains a strong part of daily life. So whether you are searching for treasure or simply trying to locate your keys, you are taking part in a hunt.
Examples
- 1
Animal behavior
Lions usually hunt at night.
- 2
Police search
Police are hunting for the driver who left the scene.
- Patternhunt for + person/thing
search carefully for them or it
- 3
Searching inside
I hunted through my bag for my passport.
- Patternhunt through + place/container
search inside it carefully
- 4
Housing search
She spent months hunting for an apartment she could afford.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Hiring
The company is hunting for someone with more experience.
- 6
Difficult search
Reporters are still trying to hunt down the source of the leak.
- Patternhunt down + person/thing
find them or it after a difficult search
- 7
Active search
We’re on the hunt for a better name for the product.
- Phraseon the hunt for
actively looking for
- 8
Job search
His job hunt took longer than he expected.
- Phrasejob hunt
the process of looking for a job
- 9
Game
The kids went on a treasure hunt after lunch.
- Phrasetreasure hunt
a game where you look for hidden things
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- huntnounverb
Forms
- hunting-ing formverbnoun
- huntedpast tenseverbnoun
- huntspluralnounverb