hound
HOWND
/haʊnd/
To harass, pursue, or bother relentlessly without pause.
Implies persistent, aggressive chasing that leaves the victim no peace or refuge.
The story behind the word. Comes directly from Old English 'hund', meaning a dog, especially one bred for hunting. By the 16th century, the noun converted into a verb meaning to chase or follow relentlessly, taking inspiration from hunting hounds tracking prey.
Word relationships
- harass: Harass covers a broad range of disturbing behaviors, whereas hound highlights persistent pursuit.
- badger: Badger emphasizes irritating, repetitive questioning rather than physical pursuit.
- leave alone: To allow someone to remain undisturbed.
Commonly confused with
- hunt: Hunt means searching to capture or kill, whereas hound as a verb means to constantly badger or pursue for attention.
Collocations
- relentlessly hound
- hounded by reporters
- hound for answers
Idioms & expressions
- hound someone out of town
Example sentences
- "Reporters hounded the politician outside his home until he finally agreed to brief the press." Celebrity life
Memory hook
Think of a pack of hunting HOUNDS chasing prey without stopping. Relentless chasing.
When not to use
Do not use for a single polite inquiry or friendly follow-up.
Fun facts
- The verb 'hound' entered English speech around the same era as similar animal-derived verbs like 'dogged' and 'badger'.
Explore more words
relentless, Harassment, incessant, Stalking, Pertinacious, haggle
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