stalking
stalking — noun
1. the illegal act of secretly pursuing or monitoring another person day after day,
the illegal act of secretly pursuing or monitoring another person day after day, causing them to feel unsafe or distressed
Kim was granted a restraining order after months of stalking by her ex-boyfriend.
restraining order + stalking by [person] — legal protective measure
The new law makes online stalking a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison.
online stalking — cybercrime context
The court sentenced him to eighteen months in prison after he was found guilty of stalking three young women.
Police launched a campaign to teach teenagers how to recognise the early signs of stalking.
Fatima never imagined that accepting a friend request could lead to years of stalking.
- harassment
broader term covering any unwanted repeated behaviour, not necessarily following or surveillance
- surveillance
neutral or official observation; does not imply criminal intent or harassment
- cyberstalking
a specific subtype of stalking carried out through digital means such as social media or email
- protection
the act of keeping someone safe, the opposite of causing them fear through pursuit
- privacy
the state of being free from unwanted observation that stalking violates
文法句型
stalking + of + person
stalking + through/on + medium
用法筆記
Often appears in legal contexts alongside terms like 'restraining order,' 'harassment,' and 'protection order.' Can be prefixed by 'cyber-' or 'online' to specify digital forms. Unlike 'harassment,' which covers a broader range of unwanted contact, stalking specifically implies persistent tracking or following.
常見錯誤
stalking — verb
1. to follow or contact someone repeatedly and in a way that makes them feel fright
to follow or contact someone repeatedly and in a way that makes them feel frightened or threatened, especially when this behaviour is obsessive and against the law
The court heard how the defendant had been stalking the victim for nearly two years.
had been stalking — past perfect continuous for extended duration
Oluwaseun realised someone was stalking her when the same car appeared outside her house every evening.
The pop star said that paparazzi had been stalking her family during their holiday in Bali.
Yuki notified the police after she discovered that a former classmate had been stalking her every time she left the office.
Wei installed a security camera after discovering his neighbour had been stalking him from across the street.
- harass
focuses on causing distress rather than the specific act of following or tracking
- shadow
describes following closely without being seen, but does not necessarily imply obsessive or illegal behaviour
- cyberstalk
a specific verb for stalking carried out through digital channels
文法句型
stalk + person
stalk + person + through/on + medium
用法筆記
This is the meaning that underlies the modern crime of 'stalking.' The victim's fear is an essential element — if the target is unaware or unafraid, this sense does not apply. Frequently appears in news reports and legal documents alongside terms like 'restraining order,' 'harassment,' and 'protection order.'
常見錯誤
2. to move quietly and carefully towards an animal or person in order to catch or a
to move quietly and carefully towards an animal or person in order to catch or attack them without being seen or heard
The lioness spent the morning stalking a herd of zebra through the tall grass.
stalking + through — prepositional phrase showing location
Hunters must learn to move against the wind when stalking deer in open woodland.
Our cat spent the whole afternoon stalking a single sparrow in the garden.
A wolf can cover several kilometres while stalking its prey across the frozen tundra.
The documentary showed a cheetah stalking a gazelle on the open plain before sprinting after it.
文法句型
stalk + prey animal
stalk + area/territory
用法筆記
Primarily used in hunting and wildlife contexts. The object is typically the hunted animal or the territory being searched. Unlike the legal sense of 'stalking' (which implies obsessive, repeated behaviour), this sense describes a single, purposeful act of stealthy approach.
常見錯誤
3. to walk in a stiff, proud, or angry way, usually because you feel insulted or wa
to walk in a stiff, proud, or angry way, usually because you feel insulted or want to show your displeasure
When his proposal was rejected, Professor Hartley stalked out of the meeting without a word.
stalked out of [place] — showing angry departure
The general stalked across the parade ground with his shoulders squared and chin raised.
After losing the argument, Aisha stalked into the kitchen and slammed the door behind her.
When the maid accidentally broke the vase, the butler stalked over and glared at her without a word.
Hassan said nothing; he simply turned around and stalked away across the lawn.
文法句型
stalk + adverb/preposition
stalk out of/into/away
用法筆記
This is a literary or old-fashioned sense rarely used in everyday conversation. The direction of movement (out of, into, across, away) is almost always stated. Unlike the other senses of 'stalk,' this one is intransitive and describes a manner of walking rather than following or pursuing someone.