hunt down
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to search for someone or something until you find them, especially when it is difficult.
phrasal verb. to pursue a person or object relentlessly until located or captured; often implies a systematic or intensive search.
The police managed to hunt down the suspect after a long chase.
I spent all afternoon trying to hunt down that specific book in every shop in town.
The investigative journalist spent months in the archives, determined to hunt down the original documents that would prove the senator's involvement in the scandal.
often used with people (criminals) or hard-to-find items (rare books, specific information).
contrast with 'look for' or 'search'; 'hunt down' implies a successful conclusion to a difficult or aggressive search.
He hunted down to the thief.He hunted down the thief.the phrase is transitive and takes a direct object without an extra preposition like 'to'.
Last updated April 24, 2026