stalking

American

[staw-king] / ˈstɔ kɪŋ /

noun

the act or an instance of stalking, or harassing another in an aggressive, often threatening and illegal manner.

Stalking is now a crime in many states.

adjective

of or relating to the act of pursuing or harassing.

Stalking laws have alleviated some problems for famous people.

Other Word Forms

stalkingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of stalking

stalk ² (verb) + -ing ¹

Explanation

Stalking is the act of following someone or something very closely and watching its every move. If you're a very famous movie star, it's quite likely that someone is stalking you even as you read this sentence! The verb to stalk means to pursue carefully, and often stealthily. It was originally used to describe hunters following their prey and waiting for the precise moment to attack. In its more recent, colloquial use, stalk and its gerund form stalking, refer to the act of pursuing a person, often because you have an unhealthy obsession with them. Stalking your ex-girlfriend to see if she’s dating someone may seem like a good idea, but it’s unwise and illegal!

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Vocabulary lists containing stalking

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And in late February, jurors convicted two activists on stalking charges after they livestreamed themselves following an immigration agent to his home; the pair were acquitted of conspiracy.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

He is also stalking private credit in other ways, including his offer in February to buy out shareholders in a fund managed by Blue Owl Capital at discounted prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

It will create an alert when offenders convicted of crimes such as domestic abuse and stalking approach their victim.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

The pair were indicted on charges of “doxxing” Huitzilin and convicted of stalking him at trial last week.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

We planned to see each other so I could give Jake the note, but I didn’t realize he meant that he was going to be stalking my front doorstep.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023