hunt
gb/hˈʌnt/ us/hˈʌnt/
A2
English
~ 4900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Search for and kill animals
To look for and try to catch or kill animals.
Usage pattern:
to hunt [animal]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'hunt' with 'search', but 'hunt' usually involves animals and the intent to capture or kill.
Synonyms
pursue (More general; can refer to chasing people, goals, or animals.)
|
track (Focuses on following signs or tracks of the animal.)
Antonyms
protect (Means to keep safe from harm rather than capture or kill.)
Collocations
hunt deer
|hunt for foxes
|hunt wild game
|hunt birds
Themes
nature
|sports
|food
|animals
Examples
- They hunted deer in the forest last weekend.
- The lions hunt at night when it's cooler.
- We used to hunt rabbits on my grandfather's farm.
- She learned how to hunt ducks with her father.
Learner examples
- We hunt deer in the forest.
- The cat hunts birds in the garden.
- They hunt fish with nets.
- He hunts rabbits in the field.
Verb
A2
action
2
Search carefully for something
To look hard for a person or thing.
Usage pattern:
to hunt for [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'hunt' only for animals, but it can also mean searching for objects or people.
Synonyms
search (The most general term; does not imply pursuit like 'hunt' does.)
|
seek (More formal; often used for abstract goals.)
Antonyms
ignore (Means to deliberately not look for something.)
Collocations
hunt for a job
|hunt for treasure
|hunt for clues
Themes
daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I'm hunting for my missing keys.
- Detectives hunted for clues at the crime scene.
- She has been hunting for a new apartment all month.
Learner examples
- I am hunting for my phone.
- He is hunting for a good hotel.
- They are hunting for the lost dog.
Noun
B1
event
3
Event of chasing animals
A time when people try to catch or kill wild animals.
Synonyms
chase (Less formal; can describe any pursuit, not just of animals.)
Antonyms
conservation effort (An organized activity to protect wildlife instead of killing it.)
Collocations
go on a hunt
|join the hunt
|fox hunt
Themes
nature
|sports
|animals
Examples
- They went on a hunt early in the morning.
- The annual fox hunt is a local tradition.
- A lion hunt can be dangerous.
Learner examples
- We went on a hunt yesterday.
- The hunt was early in the morning.
- The hunt lasted all day.
Noun
A2
action
4
Attempt to find something
A time when you look hard for something or someone.
Synonyms
search (More general term that does not carry connotations of excitement or challenge like 'hunt' might.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failure to make any attempt to find something.)
Collocations
job hunt
|treasure hunt
|manhunt
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police launched a manhunt for the escaped prisoner.
- She's on the job hunt after graduating college.
- We organized a treasure hunt for the kids.
Learner examples
- I am on a job hunt.
- The police started a manhunt.
- We had a treasure hunt at school.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hunt
IPA
GB/hˈʌnt/
US/hˈʌnt/
Syllables & stress
hunt (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hunt)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hunt
- Plural: hunt, hunts
Verb
- Base: hunt
- 3rd Person Singular: hunts
- Present Participle: hunting
- Past: hunted
Word family
Expressions
hunt down
1/hˈʌnt dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Chase and catch someone/something
To find and catch someone or something after chasing them.
Examples
- The police hunted down the suspect within hours.
- It took years to hunt down the rare book collector.
job hunt
1/d͡ʒˈɑb hˈʌnt/
fixed phrase
Look for a job
To try to find a job.
Examples
- I've been on a job hunt since last month.
- She is job hunting in New York City.
manhunt
1/mˈænhˌʌnt/
fixed phrase
Search for a fugitive or criminal
When many people try to find someone who has escaped or committed a crime.
Examples
- The manhunt lasted three days before they caught him.
- Police launched a manhunt after the prison break.
treasure hunt
1/tɹˈɛʒɚ hˈʌnt/
fixed phrase
game of searching for hidden things
A game or event where people look for hidden things or follow clues to find a prize.
Examples
- The children played a treasure hunt in the garden at the birthday party.
- We organized a treasure hunt around the city for the new students.
- At Easter they do a treasure hunt, hiding small gifts all over the house.
treasure hunt
2/tɹˈɛʒɚ hˈʌnt/
fixed phrase
Game of finding hidden items with clues
A game where you follow clues to find hidden things.
Examples
- The kids enjoyed the treasure hunt at the party.
- We planned a treasure hunt around the park.