hunting
B1Formal, neutral, and informal depending on context. Formal in legal/regulatory contexts (e.g., hunting rights), neutral in general description, informal in metaphorical use (e.g., job-hunting).
Definition
Meaning
The activity or sport of pursuing and killing wild animals for food, sport, or population control.
The act of searching diligently for something or someone; can metaphorically refer to seeking out information, opportunities, or bargains.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes an activity with a purpose (food, trophy, control). The metaphorical extension often implies a determined, systematic search. Can have negative connotations related to animal welfare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'hunting' often specifically refers to the pursuit of animals (especially foxes) with hounds, a practice with significant cultural and class connotations. In the US, it's a broader term for shooting/trapping game animals (deer, elk, etc.) and is widely associated with sport, subsistence, and wildlife management.
Connotations
UK: Can be politically and socially divisive; strongly associated with tradition and rural life vs. animal rights. US: Generally has stronger associations with sport, outdoor culture, conservation funding (via licenses), and the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to its broader, less contentious application and significant cultural role. In UK English, more context-specific due to the 2004 Hunting Act which banned hunting wild mammals with dogs.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
go ~ (for N)be ~ (for N)N's ~ of Nthe ~ of N is adj.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Happy hunting ground(s)”
- “be on the hunt for”
- “witch-hunt”
- “in the hunt (for something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical use: 'talent hunting' or 'headhunting' for recruitment; 'bargain hunting' for seeking good deals.
Academic
Used in anthropology (hunting and gathering societies), history, environmental studies, and wildlife management.
Everyday
Discussing weekend plans, news about wildlife, or metaphorically searching for items in a shop or online.
Technical
In wildlife biology: 'population control through regulated hunting.' In computing: 'bug hunting' or 'vulnerability hunting.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They often go hunting in the Scottish Highlands.
- He was hunting for his keys in the cluttered drawer.
American English
- We hunt deer every fall in upstate New York.
- She's hunting for a new apartment in the city.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'hunting' is not used as an adverb. Use phrases like 'while hunting' or 'for hunting'.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'hunting' is not used as an adverb. Use phrases like 'while hunting' or 'for hunting'.)
adjective
British English
- He bought a new hunting jacket for the season.
- The hunting lodge was deep in the forest.
American English
- They followed the hunting regulations carefully.
- His hunting dog is a trained Labrador.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle likes hunting.
- They are not hunting today because of the rain.
- Hunting is a popular activity in some rural areas.
- She spent the morning hunting for her lost ring.
- The debate over fox hunting continues to polarise public opinion in the UK.
- The company is actively hunting for a new marketing director.
- Sustainable hunting practices are integral to modern wildlife management strategies.
- His relentless hunting for historical documents finally yielded a crucial piece of evidence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HUN wearing a TING (sounds like 'ting') hat while searching in the woods. HUN + TING = HUNTING.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A HUNT; PROBLEM-SOLVING IS HUNTING (e.g., 'hunting for a solution', 'closing in on the answer').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'охота' meaning 'willingness/desire'. In English, 'hunting' is only the activity. 'I feel like hunting' means you want to pursue animals, not that you are generally willing to do something.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hunting' as a countable noun (*'I went on a hunting') instead of an uncountable/gerund ('I went hunting'). Confusing 'hunt' (verb/noun) and 'hunting' (noun/gerund).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'headhunting' is a metaphorical extension of 'hunting' that means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while the core meaning involves pursuing animals, it is often used metaphorically (e.g., 'house-hunting', 'bargain-hunting') without any implication of violence.
'Hunting' refers to pursuing land or air animals, while 'fishing' refers to catching fish. The combined activity is often referred to as 'hunting and fishing'.
Yes, in wildlife management, 'regulated hunting' or 'culling' is often presented as a tool for controlling overpopulated species and funding conservation efforts.
It is legally and culturally defined as a sport in many regions, involving skill, competition (e.g., trophies), and specific seasons. However, this is ethically contested by animal rights groups.