to stalk

Examples

• All

• We're gonna stalk the gazelles while everybody's at the game.

  The Wild (2006)

• We watched them stalk francolins, saddlebill storks, and other birds without much success.

  Academic text (1999)

• We could stalk the forest all night and not find anything too.

  Prey (2022)

• Your cat gets down low, they start to stalk, they're hunting.

  Jackson Galaxy

• Cousins took a long time to stalk and shoot a goral.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Eventually, the mother started stalking birds and disappeared into the bush.

  Academic text (1999)

• The tiger cat Brutus was stalking the grill, planning his attack.

  Fiction book (1990)

• All of a sudden, we spotted a wolf stalking the lone cub on the bank.

  Academic text (2003)

• While harmless to nonhost insects, the wasp stalks its leafroller prey with the agility of a big-cat predator.

  Academic text (2004)

• As the lion prepares to hunt, it must stalk slowly through the tall grass to avoid being detected.

Synonyms

H

to hunt

vsto stalk

322 1.0

To chase someone or something without stopping to catch them

moves quietly through an area in search of prey rather than broad relentless pursuit

C

to creep

vsto stalk

155 2.5

To move slowly and quietly with the body low to the ground

uses quiet careful movement aimed at finding prey rather than low body posture itself

T

to trail

vsto stalk

50 2.5

Follow someone closely to try to catch them

moves quietly through an area to locate prey rather than simply trailing from behind

P

to prowl

vsto stalk

35 5.3

To move quietly around a place looking for something

moves quietly with the specific aim of finding prey rather than general secret movement

T

to track down

vsto stalk

9 4.6

To follow wild animals until you catch or kill them

searches quietly through an area for prey rather than focusing only on final capture

H

to hunt down

vsto stalk

6 4.0

Chase and take wild animals for food or sport

searches by quiet careful movement to find prey rather than active chasing

S

to stalk its prey

vsto stalk

6 6.6

To move quietly and carefully toward an animal to catch it by surprise

moves quietly and carefully through an area searching for prey rather than only surprising it

S

to still-hunt

vsto stalk

• Jargon

1 9.8

To move quietly and try to catch an animal by surprise

moves quietly through an area searching for prey rather than staging an ambush

S

to search for prey

vsto stalk

5.0

To look for animals to hunt and eat

searches by moving quietly and carefully through an area rather than just scanning visually

M

to mouse

vsto stalk

8.7

To move quietly and carefully so other people do not notice

is the same silent movement when done specifically to search for prey

P

pursuing

vsto stalk

3.2

Following someone to try to catch them

follows with quiet careful searching aimed at finding prey rather than general pursuit

Antonyms

H

to hide

∞ 1.0

To keep something so others cannot see or understand it

R

to retreat

235 4.0

To move back from a place or plan to avoid danger

Phrasal Verbs

S

to stalk its prey

6 6.6

To move quietly and carefully toward an animal to catch it by surprise

Compounds

C

corn stalk

• US

2 1.6

A tall stem that holds the leaves and ears of a corn plant

F

flower stalk

1 3.3

An upright stem that grows from the ground and holds a flower above the leaves

H

hypophyseal stalk

• Specialized

9.9

A thin tube connecting the pituitary gland under the brain to the hypothalamus above it

How Stealthy

to stalk

41 6.0

to prowl

35 5.3

to creep

155 2.5

sneak

2 5.6

Surface Forms

Etymology