Definitions
01chasing animals
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. the act of finding and killing wild animals for food or as a hobby.
n. the pursuit and killing of wild animals for sustenance, commercial profit, or recreation.
“In some cultures, hunting is still a necessary way to provide food for the family.”
“The government introduced stricter regulations on deer hunting to ensure the local population remained at a sustainable level throughout the winter.”
02searching for something
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of looking for something you need, like a new job or a place to live.
n. the systematic process of searching for a specific object, person, or opportunity.
“After months of job hunting, she finally received an offer from a great company.”
“House hunting in a competitive market requires patience and the ability to make a decision the moment a property becomes available.”
03unstable movement
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. a situation where a machine or system keeps moving back and forth because it cannot find the right balance.
n. an undesirable oscillation or fluctuation in a control system that fails to reach a steady state.
“The engine was hunting, with the speed going up and down instead of staying steady.”
“The technician noticed the thermostat was hunting, causing the heating system to cycle on and off rapidly without reaching the target temperature.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon in engineering.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hunting” in context.
Verb
01. ban hunting
“The government decided to ban hunting of endangered species to protect biodiversity.”
verb + noun
02. go hunting
“In the autumn, many locals go hunting for deer in the nearby forest.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. illegal hunting
“Park rangers are working hard to stop illegal hunting within the national park boundaries.”
adj + noun
04. intensive job hunting
“After three months of intensive job hunting, she finally received a promising offer.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. bargain hunting
“We spent the entire Saturday bargain hunting at the local flea markets.”
noun + noun
06. hunting ground
“This valley has been a traditional hunting ground for indigenous tribes for centuries.”
noun + noun
07. hunting season
“The hunting season begins in October and attracts many visitors to the rural county.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“Interestingly, the study suggests that collecting fuel may have required less planning than activities such as hunting large animals or producing stone tools.” “Rather than simply hunting wolves or avoiding them, some prehistoric communities may have formed long-term relationships with the animals, managing and caring for them without fully domesticating them.” “The family divided their time among Tsarskoye Selo, the fjords of Finland, a hunting lodge in Poland and a summer palace in Crimea.” Etymology
From Middle English hunting, from Old English huntung, equivalent to hunt + -ing.
From Middle English huntynge, alteration of earlier Middle English huntinde, huntende, huntand, present participle of hunten (“to hunt”), equivalent to hunt + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hunting
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0