stalking

[ staw-king ]

/ ˈstɔ kɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stalking ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

stalk, stalk-eyed, stalked, stalked puffball, stalker, stalking, stalking horse, stalking-horse, stalkless, stalky, stall

Origin of stalking

stalk² (verb) + -ing¹

Related formsstalk·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for stalking (2 of 2)

stalk

[ stawk ]

/ stɔk /

verb (used without object)

to pursue or approach prey, quarry, etc., stealthily.

to walk with measured, stiff, or haughty strides: He was so angry he stalked away without saying goodbye.

to proceed in a steady, deliberate, or sinister manner: Famine stalked through the nation.

Obsolete. to walk or go stealthily along.

verb (used with object)

to pursue (game, a person, etc.) stealthily.

to proceed through (an area) in search of prey or quarry: to stalk the woods for game.

to proceed or spread through in a steady or sinister manner: Disease stalked the land.

noun

an act or course of stalking quarry, prey, or the like: We shot the mountain goat after a five-hour stalk.

a slow, stiff stride or gait.

Origin of stalk

1250–1300; Middle English stalken (v.), representing the base of Old English bestealcian to move stealthily, stealcung stalking (gerund); akin to steal

Related formsstalk·a·ble, adjectivestalk·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stalking

ARS identified what it called the “stalker gap,” where people convicted of stalking as a misdemeanor can still carry guns.
The Battle Is On in Gabby Giffords’s Old District|Eleanor Clift|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There has also been an outpouring of sympathy and shared stories from other women who have been victims of stalking.
Japan’s Miss International Takes on Mob-Backed Entertainment Complex|Jake Adelstein|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
See the back-and-forth allegations of stalking and text-message harassment.
Lady Gaga and Perez Hilton’s Wild Feud: Stalking Allegations and Smear Campaigns|The Daily Beast|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He knew of the history, he knew of the stalking behavior, and he was done with her.
Jodi Arias Faces Her Fate as Jury Begins Deliberations|Christine Pelisek|May 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Tennis prodigy turned tabloid staple Jennifer Capriati is once again in trouble with the law—charged with stalking an ex.
Jennifer Capriati’s Legacy: Tennis Great or Troubled Star?|Kevin Fallon|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And thus ends my Stalking for the Present, and (probably) the Future!
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 99, Sept. 27, 1890|Various
Step by step, and not making as much noise as a stalking cat, the creature drew closer.
The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras|Marvin West
If he shot the man he was stalking alarm would be given and he would be riddled with bullets before he got back.
And Thus He Came|Cyrus Townsend Brady
We ought to have reconnoitered more, instead of thinking about stalking.
Pluck on the Long Trail|Edwin L. Sabin
Ali Bobo, it must be remarked, had not originated this idea of stalking sentinels.
In the Track of the Troops|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for stalking (1 of 2)

stalk

/ (stɔːk) /

noun

the main stem of a herbaceous plant

any of various subsidiary plant stems, such as a leafstalk (petiole) or flower stalk (peduncle)

a slender supporting structure in animals such as crinoids and certain protozoans, coelenterates, and barnacles

any long slender supporting shaft or column

Derived Formsstalked, adjectivestalkless, adjectivestalklike, adjective

Word Origin for stalk

C14: probably a diminutive formed from Old English stalu upright piece of wood; related to Old Frisian staal handle

British Dictionary definitions for stalking (2 of 2)

stalk

/ (stɔːk) /

verb

to follow or approach (game, prey, etc) stealthily and quietly

to pursue persistently and, sometimes, attack (a person with whom one is obsessed, often a celebrity)

to spread over (a place) in a menacing or grim mannerfever stalked the camp

(intr) to walk in a haughty, stiff, or threatening wayhe stalked out in disgust

to search or draw (a piece of land) for prey

noun

the act of stalking

a stiff or threatening stride

Derived Formsstalker, noun

Word Origin for stalk

Old English bestealcian to walk stealthily; related to Middle Low German stolkeren, Danish stalke

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for stalking (1 of 3)

stalk

"stem of a plant," early 14c., probably a diminutive (with -k suffix) of stale "one of the uprights of a ladder, handle, stalk," from Old English stalu "wooden part" (as of a harp), from Proto-Germanic *stalo; related to Old English steala "stalk, support," and steall "place" (see stall (n.1)).

Word Origin and History for stalking (1 of 3)

stalk

v.1

"pursue stealthily," Old English -stealcian, as in bestealcian "to steal along," from Proto-Germanic *stalkojanan, probably from a frequentative of the root of steal (cf. hark from hear, talk from tell). Or it may be from a sense of stalk (v.1), influenced by stalk (n.). Meaning "harass obsessively" first recorded 1991. Related: Stalked; stalking.

A stalking-horse was literally a horse trained to allow a fowler to conceal himself behind it to get within range of the game; figurative sense of "person who participates in a proceeding to disguise its real purpose" is recorded from 1610s.

Word Origin and History for stalking (2 of 3)

stalk

v.2

"walk haughtily" (opposite meaning of stalk (v.1)) is 1520s, perhaps from stalk (n.) with a notion of "long, awkward strides," or from Old English stealcung "a stalking," related to stealc "steep, lofty."

Medicine definitions for stalking

stalk

[ stôk ]

n.

A slender or elongated support or structure, as one that connects or supports an organ.

Science definitions for stalking

stalk

[ stôk ]

The main stem of a plant.

A slender structure that supports a plant part, such as a flower or leaf.

A slender supporting structure in certain other organisms, such as the reproductive structure in plasmodial slime molds or the part of a mushroom below the cap.

A slender supporting or connecting part of an animal, such as the eyestalk of a lobster.

stalking

noun

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of stalking

Definition for stalking (2 of 2)

stalk

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of stalk

Examples from the Web for stalking

British Dictionary definitions for stalking (1 of 2)

stalk

noun

Word Origin for stalk

British Dictionary definitions for stalking (2 of 2)

stalk

verb

noun

Word Origin for stalk

Word Origin and History for stalking (1 of 3)

stalk

Word Origin and History for stalking (1 of 3)

stalk

Word Origin and History for stalking (2 of 3)

stalk

Medicine definitions for stalking

stalk

n.

Science definitions for stalking

stalk