Synonyms

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!

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing stalking

Burning Blue

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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.

Notice it has been acting better than its crypto cousin Ethereum on the ratio chart against the Grayscale Ethereum Stalking ETF since last summer.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

My latest column, “The Big Scary Myth Stalking the Stock Market,” argues that the fears about overconcentration are overblown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

In Kent, the national charity Protection Against Stalking has expanded its workshops in schools to meet demand.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2025

The justices’ message was clear: Stalking is not the problem; sensitivity is.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2023

“For what? Stalking me, or lying about it?”

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

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