stalking

American  

[staw-king] / ˈstɔ kɪŋ /

noun

1. 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.

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adjective

1. 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!

Example Sentences

Teens, tweens and even younger children are “squishy hunting,” stalking their local toy stores to get their hands on the gooey must-have item of the moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Samane also was acquitted of the stalking charge.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

The peace of lush, rural landscape in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province disguises the anxiety that is stalking the land.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Here’s what VPNs actually do for you in the real world: Privacy protection keeps your ISP from selling your browsing history and advertisers from stalking you across the web.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2026

Hazel eyed the open path warily and then moved over to the side, creeping along the trees like a stalking wolf.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu

Related Words

• angling
• fishery
• fishing
• shooting