prowl
gb/pɹˈaʊl/ us/pɹˈaʊl/
B2
English
ólálkodik, cirkál, fel-alá járkál, portya, ólálkodás
VERB
B2
1
ólálkodik
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/animal] prowl (around/about) [place] (for [someone/something])
Police said a thief had been prowling the area after dark.
A rendőrség szerint egy tolvaj sötétedés után a környéken ólálkodott.
A fox was prowling around the henhouse.
Egy róka ólálkodott a tyúkól körül.
She heard footsteps prowling outside her window.
Learner examples
A cat prowled in the garden.
Egy macska ólálkodott a kertben.
Someone was prowling outside at night.
Valaki éjszaka odakint ólálkodott.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse prowl with patrol: patrol suggests official guarding, while prowl suggests secrecy and often bad intentions.
Meaning
move stealthily while searching
Collocations
prowl around
|prowl about
|prowl the streets
|prowl the neighborhood
|prowl at night
|prowl for prey
|prowl for victims
|prowl outside the house
|prowl silently
|prowl in the shadows
Synonyms
stalk (Stronger sense of following a target to harm or catch it.)
|
lurk (Emphasizes staying hidden rather than moving around.)
|
sneak around (More general; less specifically like a predator.)
Antonyms
stroll (Walk in a relaxed, open way, not secretly.)
|
stay put (Not moving around or searching.)
Themes
crime
|animals
|danger
|daily_life
Definition
to move quietly while looking for something
To move around quietly and carefully, especially while looking for someone or something to attack, steal, or cause trouble.
VERB
C1
2
cirkál
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] prowl (around/about) [place] (for [something/someone])
He prowled around the reception, looking for someone he knew.
A fogadáson cirkált, ismerősöket keresve.
Reporters prowled the hallway for any new details.
A riporterek a folyosón cirkáltak, hátha megtudnak valami újat.
She prowled the shops for a last-minute gift.
Learner examples
He prowled around the party for friends.
A bulin cirkált, barátokat keresve.
She prowled the stores for a bargain.
Az üzletek között cirkált, jó vételt keresve.
Common mistake:
Using prowl for neutral sightseeing can sound odd; it usually suggests impatience, secrecy, or a predatory attitude.
Meaning
move restlessly looking for something
Collocations
prowl around the party
|prowl the bar
|prowl the club
|prowl the aisles
|prowl for opportunities
|prowl for bargains
|prowl for gossip
|prowl around campus
|prowl the corridors
|prowl the marketplace
Synonyms
roam (More neutral; not necessarily secretive or predatory.)
|
hunt (Focuses on searching intensely for something wanted.)
|
skulk (Stronger negative sense of hiding out of guilt or fear.)
Antonyms
settle (Stop moving around and stay in one place.)
|
linger (Stay in one place rather than searching.)
Themes
social_life
|work
|daily_life
Definition
to walk around looking for what you want
To move around a place in a restless way, looking for something you want, such as an opportunity, information, or a person to talk to.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
(go) for a prowl
The cat went out for a prowl and came back an hour later.
A macska kiment egy kis portyára, és egy órával később jött vissza.
Security found signs of a prowl through the building overnight.
A biztonságiak éjszakai ólálkodás nyomait találták az épületben.
They went for a prowl around the docks after dinner.
Learner examples
The cat went for a prowl.
A macska elment egy kis portyára.
He went out on a prowl at night.
Éjszaka portyára indult.
Common mistake:
This noun use is much less common than the verb; learners often prefer 'walk' or 'search' in neutral contexts.
Meaning
an act of prowling
Collocations
go for a prowl
|out on the prowl
|a late-night prowl
|a midnight prowl
|a prowl around the neighborhood
|a prowl through the streets
|a prowl through the house
|a silent prowl
Synonyms
hunt (More direct focus on searching; can be literal or figurative.)
|
search (Neutral term without the stealthy/predatory feel.)
Antonyms
stay (Remaining in one place rather than going out to look around.)
Themes
daily_life
|crime
|animals
Definition
a time when someone prowls
An occasion or period of moving around stealthily or restlessly in search of something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prowl
IPA
GB/pɹˈaʊl/
US/pɹˈaʊl/
Syllables & stress
prowl (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (prowl)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: prowl
- Plural: prowls
Verb
- Base: prowl
- 3rd Person Singular: prowls
- Present Participle: prowling
- Past: prowled
Word family
Forms
prowls
noun
prowling
verb
prowled
verb
Core family
prowler
noun
Expressions
on the prowl
1/ˈɔn ðə pɹˈaʊl/
fixed phrase
informal
looking for someone or trouble
looking for someone or something to get
Examples
- He was clearly on the prowl, scanning the room for someone to flirt with.
- The neighborhood was on edge because thieves were on the prowl.
- After the concert, fans were on the prowl for tickets to the after-party.
Learner examples
- He was on the prowl for trouble.
- Thieves were on the prowl last night.