to chase and kill wild animals for food or sport, to search determinedly for someone or something, an act of hunting

go on a wild-goose chase, run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, have bigger fish to fry

hunt down, treasure hunt, witch hunt

Formal and Informal Expressions of hunt

In different contexts, you can replace 'hunt' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'pursue, search' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'look for, chase after' is a commonplace synonym.

hunt: Explore its Definition & Usage

hunt Definition

1to chase and kill wild animals for food or sport
2to search determinedly for someone or something
3an act of hunting

Using hunt: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hunt" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He went out to hunt deer.
Example
They hunted for gold in the mountains.
Example
She's been hunting for a new job for months.
Example
The police are hunting for the suspect.

hunt Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for hunt

Antonyms for hunt

Idioms Using hunt

go on a wild-goose chase
to waste time searching for something that is unlikely to be found
Example
We went on a wild-goose chase looking for the missing keys.
run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
to support or show loyalty to two opposing sides or people at the same time
Example
He was accused of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds during the election.
have bigger fish to fry
to have more important things to do
Example
I can't help you with your homework right now, I have bigger fish to fry.

Phrases with hunt

hunt down
to pursue and capture someone or something
Example
The police are trying to hunt down the escaped prisoner.
treasure hunt
a game where players follow clues to find hidden objects or places
Example
The children had a treasure hunt in the park.
witch hunt
an investigation carried out ostensibly to uncover subversive activities but actually used to harass and undermine those with differing views
Example
The senator called the investigation a witch hunt.

Origins of hunt

Old English 'huntian', related to German 'Jagd'

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Summary: hunt in Brief

The verb 'hunt' [hʌnt] refers to the act of chasing and killing wild animals for food or sport, or searching determinedly for someone or something. It can also refer to an act of hunting. Examples include 'He went out to hunt deer.' and 'She's been hunting for a new job for months.' The phrase 'hunt down' means to pursue and capture someone or something, while idioms like 'go on a wild-goose chase' and 'have bigger fish to fry' denote fruitless searches and more pressing matters.