stalker
/ˈstɔːkə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstɔːkər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstȯ-kər/ (ame, mw)
stalker — noun
- stalkersingular
- stalkersplural
1. someone who secretly and repeatedly follows another person over a period of time
someone who secretly and repeatedly follows another person over a period of time, causing that person to feel alarmed or afraid, and typically doing so in a way that breaks the law
Mei reported her stalker to the police after finding threatening notes on her car.
reported [person] to the police — formal complaint pattern
The judge ordered the stalker to stay at least one hundred metres from the victim's home.
court order + distance restriction — legal injunction context
Amara's stalker turned out to be a former classmate who had been sending her unwanted gifts for months.
Police arrested a suspected stalker who had been waiting outside the actress's apartment every morning.
Online stalkers can find private information through social media and use it to frighten their targets.
- pursuer
less specific and more neutral; can describe someone chasing romantically or athletically, not necessarily illegally
- harasser
focuses on the unwanted contact (calls, messages) rather than the act of following
- predator
stronger and broader; implies the target is seen as vulnerable prey, not limited to following behaviour
文法句型
possessive + stalker
a/the stalker
stalker of + person
用法筆記
Frequently appears in legal and news reporting contexts alongside terms like 'restraining order,' 'harassment,' and 'protection order.' Unlike a 'follower' (someone who subscribes to social media updates), a stalker pursues someone in real life with harmful intent.
常見錯誤
2. a hunter or animal that moves slowly and carefully toward prey, staying hidden u
a hunter or animal that moves slowly and carefully toward prey, staying hidden until close enough to strike
The lioness crept through the tall grass like a silent stalker, watching the zebra herd.
like a silent stalker — simile describing stealthy movement
Experienced hunters become patient stalkers, reading the wind and moving only when the animal looks away.
Chen stayed downwind so the deer would not catch his scent — a basic stalker skill.
A good forest stalker must move slowly and stop often to listen for changes in birdsong.
The tiger is a natural stalker, following its prey for hours before launching an attack.
文法句型
a + adjective + stalker
stalker of + prey animal
用法筆記
Distinct from 'hunter' — a stalker specifically relies on stealth and patience to get close to prey, whereas a hunter may use traps, calls, or driven beats. The term emphasises the approach rather than the capture or kill.