hunt down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, neutral, and occasionally formal in certain contexts (e.g., journalism, law enforcement).
Quick answer
What does “hunt down” mean?
To pursue and capture or kill someone or something, especially after a persistent search.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To pursue and capture or kill someone or something, especially after a persistent search.
To search determinedly for something until it is found and dealt with; to locate and eliminate or obtain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Both varieties use it identically. 'Track down' is a very close synonym in both.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with literal hunting/pursuit in American English due to broader cultural context of hunting; in both varieties, figurative use is very common.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “hunt down” in a Sentence
[Subject] hunt down [Object]hunt [Object] down (separable)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hunt down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The journalist vowed to hunt down the truth.
- We need to hunt down those missing files.
American English
- The sheriff promised to hunt down the outlaw.
- I'm going to hunt down the best tacos in town.
adjective
British English
- The hunted-down criminal was finally in custody. (rare participial use)
American English
- The hunted-down fugitive had nowhere left to run. (rare participial use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The team was tasked with hunting down the cause of the supply chain disruption."
Academic
"The historian hunted down every primary source related to the treaty."
Everyday
"I finally hunted down that recipe my grandmother used to make."
Technical
"The software is designed to hunt down and quarantine malware."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hunt down”
- Incorrect: *'I hunted for the book down.' Correct: 'I hunted down the book.' or 'I hunted the book down.'
- Incorrect: *'They will hunt down after the thief.' Correct: 'They will hunt down the thief.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'hunt down the target' or 'hunt the target down'.
'Hunt' describes the activity of searching. 'Hunt down' emphasizes the successful conclusion of that search—finding and capturing or dealing with the target.
Absolutely. It's commonly used figuratively for finding information, bargains, errors, or specific items (e.g., 'hunt down a good deal,' 'hunt down a bug in the code').
It can be, in literal contexts (hunting animals, pursuing criminals). However, in most everyday figurative uses, it does not carry a violent connotation, just one of determined searching.
To pursue and capture or kill someone or something, especially after a persistent search.
Hunt down is usually informal, neutral, and occasionally formal in certain contexts (e.g., journalism, law enforcement). in register.
Hunt down: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌnt daʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌnt daʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Run to ground”
- “Leave no stone unturned (related in meaning)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a detective with a magnifying glass, HUNTing for clues all over DOWNtown until they find the criminal.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE PREY / SOLUTIONS ARE HUNTED ANIMALS. The process of solving a problem is conceptualized as a hunt.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'hunt down' used figuratively?