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

Derived Forms

stalkingly

adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

stalkings

plural

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.

Police Chief Cameron Paul fired back in his own video, saying people who believe they have been wronged financially aren’t exempt from laws against “harassment, trespassing, stalking, or other conduct.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, is also facing federal stalking charges, which can bring a maximum sentence of life in prison.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

Mangione is also charged in federal court with two counts of interstate stalking and risks the same punishment.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

The stalking protection order was made on 7 January, barring Foley from contacting Doncaster-born Yungblud, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, or any members of his entourage.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

“Don’t talk to me,” he growled, already stalking toward the door.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

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