Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of moving stealthily or cautiously, often with intent to hunt, steal, or observe: Refers to the action of walking about quietly and carefully, typically in a way that suggests searching or hunting.

2. Verb:

   • To move around quietly and carefully in an area, especially with a hidden purpose: This is the primary meaning, involving stealthy movement, as if hunting or searching for something.
   • To loiter or wander about aimlessly or restlessly: Can also describe moving around without a clear, specific goal, often due to boredom or restlessness.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The tiger's silent prowl through the jungle went unnoticed by its prey.
  • We heard a noise outside and suspected it was the prowl of a nocturnal animal.

• Verb:

  • Police officers prowl the neighborhood at night to deter crime.
  • The cat likes to prowl around the garden after dark.
  • He couldn't sleep and spent the hour prowling the empty halls of the hotel.

Advanced Usage

• "on the prowl": Actively and stealthily searching for something, often for a romantic partner, prey, or an opportunity.

  • Singles bars are full of people on the prowl for a date.
  • With the market down, investors are on the prowl for cheap stocks.

• "to prowl for": To search stealthily for a specific thing.

  • The journalist prowled the archives for the missing document.

Variants and Related Words

• Prowler (n): A person or animal that moves stealthily, often with criminal intent.
  • Residents were warned about a prowler in the area.

Synonyms

• Noun: Skulking, stealthy movement.
• Verb: Skulk, sneak, slink, roam, lurk, roam stealthily.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(The verb "prowl" is typically used alone or with prepositions like "around," "through," or "for." It does not commonly form distinct phrasal verbs.) - Prowl around/about: To move stealthily around a general area. - Security guards prowl around the perimeter of the building.

Related Idioms

• On the prowl: As described in Advanced Usage, this idiom is the most common fixed phrase using "prowl."

Noun

1. the act of prowling (walking about in a stealthy manner)

Verb

1. loiter about, with no apparent aim
2. move about in or as if in a predatory manner
   • The suspicious stranger prowls the streets of the town