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Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
The wolf was hunting its prey.
These birds have been hunted almost to extinction.
a gun used for hunting squirrels
He likes to hunt and fish.
She hunted around in the closet for a pair of shoes.
Police hunted the escaped prisoners through several states.
Noun
They went on a hunt.
We finally found a good restaurant after a long hunt.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023
The most notorious such effort is known as Operation Fox Hunt, in which Chinese officials hunt down fugitives abroad and pressure them to return home.
—William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023
The most notorious such effort is known as Operation Fox Hunt, in which Chinese officials hunt down fugitives abroad and pressure them to return home.
—William K. Rashbaum, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2023
That illusion was shattered as the villains, Na’vi bodies imbued with the memories of dead U.S. Marines, allied with a crew of human whalers from New Zealand (?) to hunt the tulkun in such barbaric fashion as to draw Sully out of hiding.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2022
Hunters from all 50 states once again purchased licenses to hunt deer in Wisconsin, said Eric Lobner, DNR wildlife director.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2022
The telescope used its Advanced Camera for Surveys to snap this scene and the ESA said that the instrument is optimized to hunt for galaxies and galaxy clusters in the ancient universe.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2022
Barr gave Durham a broad mandate in 2019 to hunt for wrongdoing by the FBI or other agencies in the early days of their investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.
—Eric Tucker, ajc, 19 Oct. 2022
And even more importantly, a massive Everglades restoration project in 2000 helped restore the natural flow of water so that wood storks were once again able to hunt efficiently in Florida waters.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2022
Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2023
While the real bear died from an overdose, its fictional furry counterpart embarks on a hunt for more drugs and is ready to tear through anything and anyone that gets in its way.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2022
But Agen's experience proves that isn't the most important part of the hunt.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2022
This team has been decimated by injuries to its receiving corps but is still right in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2022
Still, fulfilling their client’s wishes while pursuing the thrill of the hunt is what keeps them going.
—Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 1 Nov. 2022
And while some might deride the growth of the playoff for including teams that can’t possibly contend for a national championship, a far worse system has been one that knocks top-10 teams out of the title hunt in October.
—Bill Oram, oregonlive, 7 Oct. 2022
Forget about upsetting the dead; ranking our fair city's spirits is the kind of ghost hunt guaranteed to spook the living.
—Rene Guzman Staff, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Oct. 2022
Kinney also shared that hunters must check in with the Medina Police Department at the beginning and end of the hunt.
—Alyssa Alfano, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2022
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Verb
Having to hunt in your email for the password to your Zoom knitting group is friction.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023
The most notorious such effort is known as Operation Fox Hunt, in which Chinese officials hunt down fugitives abroad and pressure them to return home.
—William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2023
The most notorious such effort is known as Operation Fox Hunt, in which Chinese officials hunt down fugitives abroad and pressure them to return home.
—William K. Rashbaum, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2023
That illusion was shattered as the villains, Na’vi bodies imbued with the memories of dead U.S. Marines, allied with a crew of human whalers from New Zealand (?) to hunt the tulkun in such barbaric fashion as to draw Sully out of hiding.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2022
Hunters from all 50 states once again purchased licenses to hunt deer in Wisconsin, said Eric Lobner, DNR wildlife director.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2022
The telescope used its Advanced Camera for Surveys to snap this scene and the ESA said that the instrument is optimized to hunt for galaxies and galaxy clusters in the ancient universe.
—Julia Musto, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2022
Barr gave Durham a broad mandate in 2019 to hunt for wrongdoing by the FBI or other agencies in the early days of their investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.
—Eric Tucker, ajc, 19 Oct. 2022
And even more importantly, a massive Everglades restoration project in 2000 helped restore the natural flow of water so that wood storks were once again able to hunt efficiently in Florida waters.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2022
Noun
On day two of the hunt for a Speaker, Republicans nominated Donalds.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2023
While the real bear died from an overdose, its fictional furry counterpart embarks on a hunt for more drugs and is ready to tear through anything and anyone that gets in its way.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2022
But Agen's experience proves that isn't the most important part of the hunt.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2022
This team has been decimated by injuries to its receiving corps but is still right in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2022
Still, fulfilling their client’s wishes while pursuing the thrill of the hunt is what keeps them going.
—Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 1 Nov. 2022
And while some might deride the growth of the playoff for including teams that can’t possibly contend for a national championship, a far worse system has been one that knocks top-10 teams out of the title hunt in October.
—Bill Oram, oregonlive, 7 Oct. 2022
Forget about upsetting the dead; ranking our fair city's spirits is the kind of ghost hunt guaranteed to spook the living.
—Rene Guzman Staff, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Oct. 2022
Kinney also shared that hunters must check in with the Medina Police Department at the beginning and end of the hunt.
—Alyssa Alfano, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2022
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These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hunt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Old English huntian; akin to Old English hentan to seize
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of hunt was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing hunt
Dictionary Entries Near hunt
Cite this Entry
“Hunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunt. Accessed 20 Feb. 2023.
More from Merriam-Webster on hunt
Nglish: Translation of hunt for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hunt for Arabic Speakers
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