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

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.

Samane also was acquitted of the stalking charge.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Its four sections carry the drama all the way to 1946, seven years after the end of the Civil War, when Ángel is still stalking the mountains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Jackson, who plays for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and was in Florida to play in the Unrivaled three-on-three league, reportedly told police that Pearce had been stalking her since she ended their three-year relationship.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

The court heard that Spring was paranoid Tyrone was "stalking him" and he had been shot at - though there was no evidence to suggest that.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

In the stillness, for a second, I thought he might be stalking a spirit or an angel.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

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