# hunt out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hunt-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to search for something until you find it, especially when it is hidden or difficult to locate.

For teachers: to search for and locate something through diligent effort or by looking in less obvious places; transitive and often implies the object was obscured or forgotten.

## Examples

- I need to hunt out my old passport before the trip.
- She managed to hunt out a rare first edition of the book in a dusty corner of the shop.
- The researchers had to hunt out original manuscripts from several private archives to verify the historical timeline of the event.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I hunted out for my keys." but "I hunted out my keys." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'for'.

## Usage notes

- the object can be placed between 'hunt' and 'out' or after the particle.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'look for' (general search) and 'find' (the result); 'hunt out' emphasizes the difficulty or the hidden nature of the object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.