Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

hunter-gather en · VERB · etymology 1

Back-formation from hunter-gatherer.

(ambitransitive) To be a hunter-gatherer; to hunt (animals) and gather (edible plants) for food.
- Deprived of the freedom to hunter-gather at will across the great open plains of the British High Street, I’ve learned much of what I need I already possess in my metaphorical cave. 2020 June 16, Sarah Vine, “SARAH VINE: I've learned the things that matter don't have a price tag”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2020:
- A study from the University of Utah (surely one of the middle-American desert's most respected seats of learning) finds that prehistoric man only managed to hunter-gather at the rate of one large animal per month. 2003 January 25, Victoria Coren, “Shoes better than sex? Don't be so silly”, in The Observer, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 May 2014:
- [T]he last of the wild Colorado elk was hunter-gathered by a table of wine-tasting bankers. 2006 March 19, Christine Muhlke, “Cross-Country Dining”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Jun 2021:

Spelling	Features	Source
hunter-gathered	Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
hunter-gathered	Tense=Past	lexicographic
hunter-gathering	Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part	lexicographic
hunter-gathers	Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres	lexicographic

Final -er removed by haplology after hunter.

(alt-of, nonstandard) Nonstandard form of hunter-gatherer.
alt of hunter-gatherer
- Trading livestock might have represented “an initial step for domestication” in hunter-gatherer societies, [Ben] Krause-Kyora said. 2013 August 28, Melissa Pandika, “Ancient farmers and hunter-gathers may have traded pigs, study finds”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2025:
- Native Americans and other hunter-gathers would give thanks to their prey for giving up its life so the eater might live (sort of like saying grace). 2002 November 10, Michael Pollan, “An Animal's Place”, in The New York Times Magazine, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 Apr 2010:
- He [Randy Haas] also said it is theoretically possible that hunter-gathers such as the Andeans were meat-based to start with and the “transition to a plant-based diet happened much more quickly than previously thought”. 2024 January 24, Nilima Marshall, “Diet of ancient Andes hunter-gatherers was 80% plant-based, study finds”, in The Independent, London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Jan 2024:

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
hunter-gathers	Number=Plur		lexicographic