hunts: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “hunts” mean?
Third person singular present of 'hunt': to pursue and kill (wild animals) for sport or food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Third person singular present of 'hunt': to pursue and kill (wild animals) for sport or food.
To search determinedly for something or someone; to persecute or harass; (of a machine or mechanism) to oscillate around a desired point without stabilizing (technical).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The activity and its cultural associations are broadly similar.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'hunts' can carry negative connotations when referring to the persecution of people or in animal rights contexts. In the UK, 'hunts' is strongly associated with fox hunting and the related socio-political debate.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to the specific cultural context of 'fox hunting' as a sustained topic.
Grammar
How to Use “hunts” in a Sentence
[S] hunts (for [O]) (in/through [LOC])[S] hunts [O] (down)[S] hunts [O] for [REASON]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hunts” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The local pack hunts across the neighbouring estates.
- She hunts for antique furniture in Sussex markets.
American English
- He hunts elk in the Colorado mountains.
- The detective hunts for leads in the cold case.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The headhunter hunts for top talent in the fintech sector.'
Academic
'The researcher hunts for evidence in the archival records.'
Everyday
'My cat hunts mice in the garden.'
Technical
'The engine's governor hunts around the set speed, causing fluctuations.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hunts”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hunts”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hunts”
- Incorrect: 'She hunt every weekend.' Correct: 'She hunts every weekend.'
- Incorrect: 'He is hunts for his keys.' Correct: 'He hunts for his keys.' or 'He is hunting for his keys.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the core meaning relates to pursuing animals, it is commonly extended to searching diligently for anything (e.g., a job, a solution, a person).
'Hunt for' means to search for something. 'Hunt down' implies a more determined search with the specific goal of finding and capturing or confronting the target.
The verb form 'hunts' is moderately common. The literal sense is used by those involved in the activity. The metaphorical sense ('hunt for keys/jobs') is very common in everyday speech.
It's a clear /ts/ sound, like the end of 'cats' or 'hats'. The 't' is not silent.
Third person singular present of 'hunt': to pursue and kill (wild animals) for sport or food.
Hunts is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He who hunts two hares leaves one and loses the other.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A HUNTer S(e)eks. Link the 'S' at the end to the single hunter (he/she/it) who seekS.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEM-SOLVING/SEEKING IS HUNTING (e.g., 'hunting for a solution', 'hunting down bugs in the code').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hunts' used in a technical sense?