English Reference
verb · adjective

hunted

v. · adj.
US /ˈhənəd/ UK /hˈʌntɪd/ hunt·ed

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    v.chased or searched for an animal to catch or kill it.

    v.the past tense or past participle of 'hunt', referring to the pursuit of wild animals for food, recreation, or population control.

    Simple

    In the past, people hunted deer in these woods to feed their families.

    In context

    The wolves hunted the elk across the frozen tundra for hours before the pack finally closed in for the kill.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive voice when describing the animal being chased.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    v.looked very hard for a person or a specific object.

    v.the past tense or past participle of 'hunt', used to describe an intensive search for a person, information, or a physical item.

    Simple

    She hunted through her desk for the missing keys but couldn't find them.

    In context

    Detectives hunted for the suspect across three different states before receiving a reliable tip from a local witness.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.describes an animal or person that is currently being followed or searched for.

    adj.describes the state of being the object of a pursuit or search.

    Simple

    The hunted fox hid quietly in the bushes until the dogs passed by.

    In context

    The fugitive lived the life of a hunted man, never staying in the same city for more than two nights.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Literary

    adj.looking very worried or scared, like you are expecting something bad to happen.

    adj.describes a facial expression or demeanour characterised by extreme anxiety, exhaustion, or the fear of being caught.

    Simple

    He had a hunted look in his eyes as he kept glancing at the door.

    In context

    After weeks of living in hiding, the whistleblower appeared on screen with a thin, hunted face that shocked his former colleagues.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated