prowl

1 of 2

verb

ˈprau̇(-ə)l 

prowled; prowling; prowls

intransitive verb

: to move about or wander stealthily in or as if in search of prey

transitive verb

: to roam over in a predatory manner

prowl

2 of 2

noun

: an act or instance of prowling

Phrases

on the prowl

: in the act of prowling

also : in search of something

his fourth wife had just left him, and he was on the prowl again

—Mary McCarthy

Examples of prowl in a Sentence

Verb

a tiger prowling in the jungle

He moved like a tiger prowling the jungle.

The police were prowling the streets in their patrol cars.

He liked to prowl the streets late at night.

I prowled the store looking for sales.

I prowled through the store looking for sales.

Noun

a prowl through the bookshop

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With Bill Belichick set to prowl the sidelines again after a brief post-Pats cooldown period, the 72-year-old mastermind joins an elite club of former head coaches who’ve used media as a launching pad for a return trip to the X’s and O’s. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Tequila and heroin can only dull the pain for so long before Lee’s desperate yearning for something more cuts through the haze and sends him back out into dingy bars and narrow alleys, prowling with a predatory lust for men. —David Opie, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024

Noun

Speaking of, Diana and Danni are on the prowl for hot guys. —Emma Soren, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2024

The second tale features a pack of young women who go on the prowl (see where this is going?). —EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English prollen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1803, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing prowl

• on the prowl
• prowl car

Kids Definition

prowl

verb

ˈprau̇(ə)l

1

: to move about or wander in a secretive manner in or as if in search of prey

2

: to roam over like a wild beast

prowl the streets

prowl noun

prowler noun