to stalk

Examples

• All

• If you don't stop stalking me, I'll arrest you.

  Bad Boys (1995)

• And she stalked him all weekend long.

• And once the vulnerable victim is identified, they will stalk them in the manner of a hunter.

  Academic text (2001)

• And like he basically stalks the girl reading her e-mail.

  BookswithEmilyFox

• What if he ends up, like, stalking us?

  Alannized

• Hey, what, are you stalking me or something?

  Accepted (2006)

• I broke up with that loser, and then he started stalking me.

  Jerry Maguire (1996)

• For example, if a former boyfriend was stalking a young woman and she didn't call the police, ask why not.

  Academic text (2009)

• His own current research focuses on stalking and intrusive social behaviors.

  Academic text (2005)

• He decided to stalk her online after she didn't respond to his messages.

Synonyms

P

to pursue

vsto stalk

∞ 3.5

To try to get something you want, like a job or a goal

focuses more on hidden pursuit or persistent mental intrusion than goal seeking

F

to follow

vsto stalk

352 4.2

To secretly watch someone to see what they do

is typically sneakier and more intentionally threatening than mere monitoring

H

to hunt

vsto stalk

322 1.0

To chase someone or something without stopping to catch them

is less openly aggressive and more about secret, repeated harassment or memory

H

to haunt

vsto stalk

268 4.9

To keep appearing in someone's mind and cause worry

is more often an external secret pursuit rather than only mental recurrence

H

to hound

vsto stalk

58 6.1

To follow and bother someone without stopping

is similarly persistent but usually carried out in secret and more maliciously

T

to trail

vsto stalk

50 2.5

Follow someone closely to try to catch them

is less about capture and more about hidden harassment or haunting presence

S

to shadow

vsto stalk

27 6.0

To follow someone closely and secretly to watch what they do

is even more secretive and often motivated by harm or obsession

M

to molest

vsto stalk

• Offensive

12 8.4

Annoy or disturb someone repeatedly

is more secretive and can also mean recurring in someone's thoughts

T

tailing

vsto stalk

12 7.1

To follow someone without their knowledge to watch where they go

is a secret pursuit that also often includes malicious intent or recurrence

P

pursuing

vsto stalk

3.2

Following someone to try to catch them

is more secretive and often intends harm rather than simple catching

Antonyms

A

to avoid

∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

I

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

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 Persistent

to obsess

304 5.5

to harass

302 4.0

to stalk

• Offensive

195 7.4

to shadow

27 6.0

to trail

50 2.5

to follow

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology