From Middle English hunten, from Old English huntian (“to hunt”), from Proto-West Germanic *huntōn (“to hunt, capture”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱent- (“to catch, seize”). Related to Old High German hunda (“booty”), Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌽𐌸𐍃 (hunþs, “body of captives”), Old English hūþ (“plunder, booty, prey”), Old English hentan (“to catch, seize”). More at hent, hint.
In some areas read as a collective form of hound by folk etymology.
Meanings
The act of hunting.
Through male bonding, the subculture of the hunt caught up in the mystique of the chase, the hunting party became a military force, and men discovered that they need not stop at defense: they could go out to hunt for other people's wealth. 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 134:
A hunting expedition.
An organization devoted to hunting, or the people belonging to it.
(collective) A pack of hunting dogs.
I've heard that back in the days of fox hunting, kennels would keep a “hunt” of foxhounds up in the 50 - 100 dog range. 2026 April 14, solsticesunrise, “Southwind Plantation”, in reddit, archived from the original on 25 Jul 2026:
The baying hunt with gathering speed 1912, Duncan Macintyre, Gaelic songs of Duncan MacIntyre, I. Grannd, page 193:
the rim at the base has a hunt of dogs and stags on a running scroll 1878, Ancient and Modern Gold and Silver Smiths' Work in the South Kensington Museum, Chapman and Hall, page 271:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
hunts
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Deriveds
manhunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · huntswoman (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · hunt saboteur (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · Hunts Point (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · witch hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · antihunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · snipe hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · hunt ball (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · foxhunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · drag hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · snark hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · molehunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · huntsperson (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · trail hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · superhunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · hunt seat (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · scavenger hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · treasure hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · egg hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · in the hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · canned hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · on the hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · bunny hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · huntmaster (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · huntboard (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · personhunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · pixel hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · Easter egg hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · Hunt's Cross (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · ghosthunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · womanhunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · Wild Hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · fox hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · witch-hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · puzzlehunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · huntless (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · dog in the hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · thrill of the hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · huntlike (Terms derived from hunt (noun)) · Internet hunt (Terms derived from hunt (noun))
Translations (190)
ky аң (the act of hunting, shooting) · bo རྔོན་པ (the act of hunting, shooting) · ps ښکار (the act of hunting, shooting) · vo yagön (the act of hunting, shooting) · tg сайд (the act of hunting, shooting) · yai шикор (the act of hunting, shooting) · hi आखेट (the act of hunting, shooting) · mn ан гөрөө (the act of hunting, shooting) · de Jagd (the act of hunting, shooting) · sdc catza (the act of hunting, shooting) · te వేట (the act of hunting, shooting) · el κυνήγι (hunting expedition) · sl lov (the act of hunting, shooting) · km ការបរបាញ់ (the act of hunting, shooting) · izh jahti (the act of hunting, shooting) · es cazata (hunting expedition) · cs hon (hunting expedition) · wa tchesse (the act of hunting, shooting) · sc càssa (the act of hunting, shooting) · tt ау (the act of hunting, shooting) · so ugaadhsi (the act of hunting, shooting) · ba ау (the act of hunting, shooting) · prs شِکَار (the act of hunting, shooting) · el θήρα (the act of hunting, shooting) · cmn 打獵 /打猎 (the act of hunting, shooting) · alt аҥ (the act of hunting, shooting) · fr chasse (the act of hunting, shooting) · mnc ᠠᠪᠠ (the act of hunting, shooting) · eo ĉaso (the act of hunting, shooting) · fi jahti (the act of hunting, shooting) · nan-hbl 拍獵 /拍猎 (the act of hunting, shooting) · ang huntoþ (hunting expedition) · tl pangangaso (the act of hunting, shooting) · mn ᠠᠩ ᠭᠥᠷᠦᠭᠡ (the act of hunting, shooting) · fa-ira نَخْچیر (the act of hunting, shooting) · mn агнуур (the act of hunting, shooting) · sq gjueti (the act of hunting, shooting) · lv medības (the act of hunting, shooting) · mn ᠠᠩ (the act of hunting, shooting) · roa-opt caça (hunting expedition) · mn ан (the act of hunting, shooting) · mr शिकार (hunting expedition) · da jagt (the act of hunting, shooting) · pdt Jacht (hunting expedition) · ota آو (the act of hunting, shooting) · nl jacht (the act of hunting, shooting) · ckb نێچیر (the act of hunting, shooting) · ar صَيْد (the act of hunting, shooting) · is veiði (the act of hunting, shooting) · ru ло́вля (the act of hunting, shooting) · kn ಬೇಟೆ (the act of hunting, shooting) · ml വേട്ട (the act of hunting, shooting) · izh ohotta (the act of hunting, shooting) · grc ἄγρα (the act of hunting, shooting) · uz ov (the act of hunting, shooting) · tr av (the act of hunting, shooting) · eo ĉasado (the act of hunting, shooting) · grc θήρα (the act of hunting, shooting) · hy որս (the act of hunting, shooting) · be палява́ньне (the act of hunting, shooting) · pt caçada (hunting expedition) · id perburuan (the act of hunting, shooting) · az ov (the act of hunting, shooting) · ru охо́та (the act of hunting, shooting) · ja 狩猟 (the act of hunting, shooting) · el κυνήγι (the act of hunting, shooting) · pa شِکار (the act of hunting, shooting) · es partida de caza (hunting expedition) · sh ло̑в (the act of hunting, shooting) · tg шикор (the act of hunting, shooting) · ar مُطارَدَة (the act of hunting, shooting) · myv оцина (the act of hunting, shooting) · ms pemburuan (the act of hunting, shooting) · ko 수렵 (the act of hunting, shooting) · it caccia (the act of hunting, shooting) · ky аң уулоо (the act of hunting, shooting) · ca cacera (the act of hunting, shooting) · eo ĉasorganizaĵo (organization) · pl polowanie (the act of hunting, shooting) · sv jakt (the act of hunting, shooting) · uk ло́вля (the act of hunting, shooting) · lb Juegd (the act of hunting, shooting) · sc catza (the act of hunting, shooting) · mr शिकार (the act of hunting, shooting) · lt medžioklė (the act of hunting, shooting) · ta வேட்டை (the act of hunting, shooting) · ps صيد (the act of hunting, shooting) · ca cacera (hunting expedition) · is veiðiferð (hunting expedition) · hi शिकार (the act of hunting, shooting) · pl myślistwo (the act of hunting, shooting) · otk 𐰉 (the act of hunting, shooting) · pa ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ (the act of hunting, shooting) · fi metsästys (hunting expedition) · kum ав (the act of hunting, shooting) · uk лов (the act of hunting, shooting) · bg лов (the act of hunting, shooting) · fa-ira صِید (the act of hunting, shooting) · nb jakt (hunting expedition) · sk lov (the act of hunting, shooting) · sdh نەچیر (the act of hunting, shooting) · ur شِکار (the act of hunting, shooting) · cs lovecký spolek (organization) · alt аҥдаш (the act of hunting, shooting) · ang huntoþ (the act of hunting, shooting) · ota قنص (the act of hunting, shooting) · pl łów (the act of hunting, shooting) · pt caça (the act of hunting, shooting) · ang huntung (the act of hunting, shooting) · uz shikor (the act of hunting, shooting) · gd sealg (the act of hunting, shooting) · kk аң аулау (the act of hunting, shooting) · th การล่า (the act of hunting, shooting) · yue 打獵 /打猎 (the act of hunting, shooting) · grc κυνηγίς (the act of hunting, shooting) · lo ການລ່າ (the act of hunting, shooting) · ia chassa (the act of hunting, shooting) · uz ov qilish (the act of hunting, shooting) · kmr nêçîr (the act of hunting, shooting) · fi metsästysretki (hunting expedition) · eu ehiza (the act of hunting, shooting) · it spedizione di caccia (hunting expedition) · ga seilg (the act of hunting, shooting) · he צַיִד (the act of hunting, shooting) · ur صَید (the act of hunting, shooting) · pdt Jacht (the act of hunting, shooting) · alt уу (the act of hunting, shooting) · ko 사냥 (the act of hunting, shooting) · ary صيّادة (the act of hunting, shooting) · id pemburuan (the act of hunting, shooting) · mk лов (the act of hunting, shooting) · ml നായാട്ട് (the act of hunting, shooting) · uk полюва́ння (the act of hunting, shooting) · bni bokila (the act of hunting, shooting) · kk аулау (the act of hunting, shooting) · es caza (the act of hunting, shooting) · cs lov (the act of hunting, shooting) · be ло́ўля (the act of hunting, shooting) · bn শিকার (the act of hunting, shooting) · bcl mangayam (the act of hunting, shooting) · ug ئوۋ (the act of hunting, shooting) · cmn 狩獵 /狩猎 (the act of hunting, shooting) · ln bokila (the act of hunting, shooting) · be палява́нне (the act of hunting, shooting) · es cacería (hunting expedition) · ky уу (the act of hunting, shooting) · ml നായാട്ട് (hunting expedition) · ee adedada (the act of hunting, shooting) · or ଶିକାର (the act of hunting, shooting) · os цуан (the act of hunting, shooting) · ru лов (the act of hunting, shooting) · txb werke (the act of hunting, shooting) · kk аңшылық (the act of hunting, shooting) · hu vadászat (the act of hunting, shooting) · ca caça (the act of hunting, shooting) · av чан (the act of hunting, shooting) · gd sealg (hunting expedition) · lb Juegd (hunting expedition) · ro vânătoare (the act of hunting, shooting) · gl caza (the act of hunting, shooting) · otk 𐰉 (hunting expedition) · prs صَید (the act of hunting, shooting) · la venatio (the act of hunting, shooting) · prs نَخْچِیر (the act of hunting, shooting) · he מָצוֹד (the act of hunting, shooting) · cs lov (hunting expedition) · be лоў (the act of hunting, shooting) · jct ав (hunting expedition) · sc zera (the act of hunting, shooting) · fi metsästys (the act of hunting, shooting) · mn ᠠᠩᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ (the act of hunting, shooting) · tk aw (the act of hunting, shooting) · uz ovlash (the act of hunting, shooting) · it caccia (hunting expedition) · aa hadani (hunting expedition) · bg ло́вна дружи́нка (organization) · nb jakt (the act of hunting, shooting) · fa-ira شِکار (the act of hunting, shooting) · ga fiach (the act of hunting, shooting) · ja 狩り (the act of hunting, shooting) · eo ĉasado (hunting expedition) · fi metsästysseura (organization) · et jaht (the act of hunting, shooting) · cy helfa (the act of hunting, shooting) · vi sự săn bắn (the act of hunting, shooting) · ca caça (hunting expedition) · ckb ڕاو (the act of hunting, shooting) · sh lȏv (the act of hunting, shooting) · amf adamá (the act of hunting, shooting) · sah булт (the act of hunting, shooting)
From Middle English hunten, from Old English huntian (“to hunt”), from Proto-West Germanic *huntōn (“to hunt, capture”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱent- (“to catch, seize”). Related to Old High German hunda (“booty”), Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌽𐌸𐍃 (hunþs, “body of captives”), Old English hūþ (“plunder, booty, prey”), Old English hentan (“to catch, seize”). More at hent, hint.
In some areas read as a collective form of hound by folk etymology.
Meanings
(ambitransitive) To find or search for an animal in the wild with the intention of killing the animal for its meat or for sport.
State Wildlife Management areas often offer licensed hunters the opportunity to hunt on public lands.
Either the bird will be downgraded to "threatened" status — which means it can be hunted — or it will be declared a nonspecies, as has already happened to all its taxonomic kissing cousins. 1981, Field & Stream, volume 86, number 5, page 107:
Her uncle will go out and hunt for deer, now that it is open season.
Like a dog, he hunts in dreams, and thou art staring at the wall, / Where the dying night-lamp flickers, and the shadows rise and fall. 1835, Alfred Tennyson, “Locksley Hall”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 100:
(ambitransitive) To try to find something; search (for).
The little girl was hunting for shells on the beach.
He after honour hunts, I after love. c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
My idea of retirement was to hunt seashells, play golf, and do a lot of walking. 2004, Prill Boyle, Defying Gravity: A Celebration of Late-Blooming Women, →ISBN, page 119:
What kind of woman came to an island and stayed there through a violent storm and then got up the next morning to hunt seashells? She had fine, delicate features with high cheekbones and the greenest eyes he'd ever seen. 2011, Ann Major, Nobody's Child, →ISBN:
The police are hunting for evidence.
(transitive) To drive; to chase; with down, from, away, etc.
to hunt down a criminal
He was hunted from the parish.
(transitive) To use or manage (dogs, horses, etc.) in hunting.
Did you hunt that pony last week?
He hunts a pack of dogs better than any man in the country. 1711 July 14 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “TUESDAY, July 4, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 104; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
(transitive) To use or traverse in pursuit of game.
He hunts the woods, or the country.
(qualifier:bell-ringing, transitive) To move or shift the order of (a bell) in a regular course of changes.
(intransitive, qualifier:bell-ringing) To shift up and down in order regularly.
(intransitive) To be in a state of instability of movement or forced oscillation, as a governor which has a large movement of the balls for small change of load, an arc-lamp clutch mechanism which moves rapidly up and down with variations of current, etc.; also, to seesaw, as a pair of alternators working in parallel.
[…] after which the inertia of the camera causes the motor to hunt with fluctuating speed. 1995, Bernard Wilkie, Special Effects in Television, page 174:
mi whakangau (to chase down prey) · el κυνηγώ (to chase down prey) · ml നായാടുക (to chase down prey) · mi whaiwhai (to chase down prey) · mn ан агнах (to chase down prey) · eo serĉi (to search for something) · he צָד (to chase down prey) · ja 狩猟する (to chase down prey) · ang huntian (to chase down prey) · sh ловити (to chase down prey) · el ψάχνω (to search for something) · ml വേട്ടയാടുക (to chase down prey) · zea jaege (to chase down prey) · nmn !qāhe (to chase down prey) · mnc ᠠᠪᠠᠯᠠᠮᠪᡳ (to chase down prey) · mk лови (to chase down prey) · da gå på jagt efter (to chase down prey) · grc κυνηγετέω (to chase down prey) · ko 수렵하다 (to chase down prey) · is leita (to search for something) · ky аң уулоо (to chase down prey) · xul gudali (to chase down prey) · nl zoeken (to search for something) · ga seilg (to chase down prey) · lb joen (to chase down prey) · ur شکار کرنا (to chase down prey) · fur cjaçâ (to chase down prey) · ziw kala (to chase down prey) · za lieb (to chase down prey) · chy -émȯhóne (to chase down prey) · ko 사냥하다 (to chase down prey) · yue 打獵 /打猎 (to chase down prey) · unm alai (to chase down prey) · da søge (to search for something) · pl polować (to chase down prey) · kaw buru (to chase down prey) · uz ovlamoq (to chase down prey) · et küttima (to chase down prey) · sw kuwinda (to chase down prey) · ru иска́ть (to search for something) · lo ລ່າສັດ (to chase down prey) · tg шикор кардан (to chase down prey) · su bujeng (to search for something) · mr शिकार करणे (to chase down prey) · kk аулау (to chase down prey) · uk лови́ти (to chase down prey) · tet kasa (to chase down prey) · am አደነ (to chase down prey) · ka ნადირობა (to chase down prey) · fur čhačâ (to chase down prey) · haw hahai (to chase down prey) · sk loviť (to chase down prey) · it cacciare (to chase down prey) · mi whakangangahu (to chase down prey) · cs lovit (to chase down prey) · ab ашәарыцара (to chase down prey) · cmn 獵取 /猎取 (to chase down prey) · cmn 捕食 (to chase down prey) · it essere a caccia (to search for something) · chr ᎦᏃᎭᎵᏙᎭ (to chase down prey) · nmn gǀkxʻâã (to chase down prey) · fy jeie (to chase down prey) · tg сайд кардан (to chase down prey) · sah бултаа (to chase down prey) · alt уулаар (to chase down prey) · eu ehiza (to chase down prey) · sdn cacciggjà (to chase down prey) · sh терати (to chase down prey) · grc θηράω (to chase down prey) · id buru (to search for something) · hy որսալ (to chase down prey) · no søke (to search for something) · es cazar (to chase down prey) · hu kutat (to search for something) · ltg medeit (to chase down prey) · ca caçar (to chase down prey) · da jage (to chase down prey) · rap poko (to chase down prey) · haw ʻimi (to chase down prey) · la vēnor (to chase down prey) · my အမဲလိုက် (to chase down prey) · mi ngaropoko (to search for something) · vec caçar (to chase down prey) · om adamsuu (to chase down prey) · it essere alla ricerca (to search for something) · vec casar (to chase down prey) · ru разы́скивать (to search for something) · is veiða (to chase down prey) · za dwk (to chase down prey) · el αναζητώ (to search for something) · ext caçal (to chase down prey) · pt vear (to chase down prey) · bg ловя́ (to chase down prey) · ckb ڕاودان (to chase down prey) · no jakte (to chase down prey) · eo ĉasi (to search for something) · ast caciar (to chase down prey) · et jahtima (to chase down prey) · eo ĉasi (to chase down prey) · lmo cascià (to chase down prey) · rm chatschar (to chase down prey) · lo ລ່າ (to chase down prey) · fa شکار کردن (to chase down prey) · kgp ẽkrénh (to chase down prey) · et jahtima (to search for something) · es buscar (to search for something) · bg ловувам (to chase down prey) · pt caçar (to search for something) · gl buscar (to search for something) · nds-de jagen (to chase down prey) · ain ラマンテ (to chase down prey) · ur صید کرنا (to chase down prey) · ar صَادَ (to chase down prey) · la vēnor (to search for something) · fr chercher (to search for something) · th ล่าสัตว์ (to chase down prey) · sc cassai (to chase down prey) · vec cazhar (to chase down prey) · su bujeng (to chase down prey) · et otsima (to search for something) · sh loviti (to chase down prey) · fa صید کردن (to chase down prey) · fi metsästää (to search for something) · uga 𐎕𐎄 (to chase down prey) · ia chassar (to chase down prey) · oc caçar (to chase down prey) · be палява́ць (to chase down prey) · cmn 打獵 /打猎 (to chase down prey) · sl loviti (to chase down prey) · fr chasser (to chase down prey) · sk poľovať (to chase down prey) · cs hledat (to search for something) · izh jahtiita (to chase down prey) · nds-de söken (to search for something) · de jagen (to chase down prey) · wa tchessî (to chase down prey) · te వేటాడు (to chase down prey) · ne सिकार गर्नु (to chase down prey) · mi whakarapu (to chase down prey) · av чан гьабизе (to chase down prey) · cy hela (to chase down prey) · km បរបាញ់ (to chase down prey) · sdc catzare (to chase down prey) · ar اِصْطَادَ (to chase down prey) · ja 狩る (to chase down prey) · hi शिकार करना (to chase down prey) · qu chakuy (to chase down prey) · sw tafuta (to search for something) · gd sealg (to chase down prey) · jv buru (to chase down prey) · ani чониду (to chase down prey) · ce талла эха (to chase down prey) · ro vâna (to chase down prey) · ug ئوۋ قىلماق (to chase down prey) · hu vadászik (to chase down prey) · ain イラマンテ (to chase down prey) · ru охо́титься (to chase down prey) · ast cazar (to chase down prey) · bo རི་དྭགས་བརྒྱབ (to chase down prey) · ug ئوۋلىماق (to chase down prey) · pt vear (to search for something) · grc θηρεύω (to chase down prey) · gl cazar (to chase down prey) · nl jagen (to chase down prey) · lv medīt (to chase down prey) · fi jahdata (to chase down prey) · id buru (to chase down prey) · mi kimikimi (to search for something) · pt caçar (to chase down prey) · sdc catzà (to chase down prey) · kix ūkūap (to chase down prey) · tr avlamak [-ar] (to chase down prey) · az ovlamaq (to chase down prey) · it cercare (to search for something) · ca caçar (to search for something) · srn onti (to chase down prey) · sga ad·claid (to chase down prey) · fi jahdata (to search for something) · fi metsästää (to chase down prey) · roa-tar caccià (to chase down prey) · ja 探す (to search for something) · be лаві́ць (to chase down prey) · ru лови́ть (to chase down prey) · ms memburu (to chase down prey) · os цуан кӕнын (to chase down prey) · da lede (to search for something) · dsb góńtwowaś (to chase down prey) · scn cacciari (to chase down prey) · kk аң аулау (to chase down prey) · sv jaga (to chase down prey) · hu vadászik (to search for something) · ca caça (to chase down prey) · el θηρεύω (to chase down prey) · lt medžioti (to chase down prey) · uz ov qilmoq (to chase down prey) · th ล่า (to chase down prey) · as চিকাৰ কৰা (to chase down prey) · vi săn bắn (to chase down prey) · no jakte (to search for something) · ky уулоо (to chase down prey) · uk полюва́ти (to chase down prey) · sq gjuaj (to chase down prey) · ext cazal (to chase down prey) · mt kaċċa (to chase down prey) · de suchen (to search for something) · ms berburu (to chase down prey)