stalked
word · lemma: stalk
Definition
To follow someone or something secretly and often for a long time, especially with harmful intentions. It can also refer to an animal moving quietly to catch prey.
Usage & Nuances
Usually formal or serious in tone, 'stalked' often appears in legal or crime contexts ('stalked by a stranger'). Can describe both humans and animals, but with different intent: criminal for humans, natural for animals. Common collocations: 'stalked her prey', 'stalked by the paparazzi'.
Example Sentences
The tiger stalked its prey in the tall grass.
basic
She felt scared because she was being stalked.
basic
A man stalked the celebrities at the airport.
basic
I realized someone had stalked me all the way home.
natural
He quietly stalked the deer so it wouldn't notice him.
natural
After her ex-boyfriend stalked her online, she blocked him everywhere.
natural