noun
hound
hownd
noun
1
A dog, especially a breed bred for hunting by scent or sight.
"The hound picked up the scent and bolted into the woods."
2
A person obsessively devoted to pursuing something (often in compounds).
"He's a real bargain hound at the flea market."
"She's a news hound, always chasing the next scoop."
verb
1
To pursue or harass someone relentlessly.
"Reporters hounded the actor for a comment outside the courthouse."
"Debt collectors kept hounding him with calls."
How to Use Hound
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hunting dog, or (as a verb) to pester someone relentlessly, or (as a suffix) someone fixated on chasing a particular thing.
Common pairings
hound someone for
a pack of hounds
news hound
Word Forms
hounded past tense, hounds plural, hounds plural, hounds singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “hound”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ picked up the scent and bolted into the woods.
Etymology
From Old English hund, "dog." In medieval English hound was the everyday word for dog, while "dog" referred to a bulldog-like breed — the two swapped roles by the 1500s.