prowl

American  

[proul] / praʊl /

verb (used without object)

1. to rove or go about stealthily, as in search of prey, something to steal, etc.

   Synonyms:

   roam

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verb (used with object)

1. to rove over or through in search of what may be found.

   The cat prowled the alleys in search of food.

noun

1. act of prowling.

idioms

1. on the prowl, in the act of prowling; searching stealthily.

   The cat is on the prowl for mice.

prowl British  

/ praʊl /

verb

1. to move stealthily around (a place) as if in search of prey or plunder

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noun

1. the act of prowling

2. 1. moving around stealthily

   2. zealously pursuing members of the opposite sex

Related Words

See lurk.

Other Word Forms

• prowler noun
• prowlingly adverb
• unprowling adjective

Etymology

Origin of prowl

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English prollen; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

“Goldilocks” was the byword for the bull market of the past few years, but now the three bears—oil, gold, and the Fed—are on the prowl, and there may be no happy ending.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Crypto kings, billionaires needing agency approvals, felons buying pardons, AI chieftains on the prowl.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

Los Angeles is just one of two megacities in the world that are home to a big cat; the other is Mumbai, in India, where leopards prowl the streets.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2024

The Tigers are allowed to prowl to the edge of the box, where Jaden Philogene is picked out and gets a fierce low shot away.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2024

I suspected she was going to prowl around looking for Nathan.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

Related Words

• lurk
• roam
• scavenge
• skulk
• slink
• stroll
• tramp