stalking
n. uncountablen. the act of following or watching someone in a scary and unwanted way over a long time. It makes the person being followed feel unsafe or worried.
n. the act of persistently following, watching, or harassing another person in a manner that causes fear or distress. Often carries legal implications as a criminal offence.
The celebrity reported the man for stalking her online.
New laws were introduced to protect victims from both physical stalking and digital harassment.
The psychological impact of prolonged stalking can be devastating, often leaving the victim in a state of hyper-vigilance even after the perpetrator has been apprehended.
From Middle English stalkynge, stalkyng, from Old English stealcung, from Proto-West Germanic *stalkungu, equivalent to stalk + -ing.
From stalk (“the stem of a plant”) + -ing.
Uncountable when referring to the general activity or crime; rarely used in the plural.