hawk

hawk — noun

1. A large wild bird that hunts and eats small animals and other birds. It has very

1.nounA2
Definition

A large wild bird that hunts and eats small animals and other birds. It has very sharp eyesight, a short curved beak, and strong claws for catching its prey.

Example

A hawk circled high above the field, watching for movement in the grass.

typical scene: hunting from above

Mei-Lin spotted a hawk sitting on the power line near her school.

Common collocations
  • soaring hawk
  • hawk circles overhead
  • hawk swoops down
  • hawk's nest
  • sharp-eyed hawk
Synonyms
  • falcon

    a similar bird of prey with longer, pointed wings; often trained for hunting

  • eagle

    a larger, heavier bird of prey with a more powerful build

  • kestrel

    a small hawk that often hovers in the air before diving

2. Someone — often in politics — who argues that using armed force is the right way

2.nounB2
Definition

Someone — often in politics — who argues that using armed force is the right way to settle disagreements between countries, instead of talking or negotiating.

Example

The party's hawks called for a stronger military response to the border dispute.

political context: military vs diplomacy

Sivan argued that the hawks in congress were pushing the country toward an unnecessary war.

Common collocations
  • political hawk
  • defence hawk
  • hawk faction
  • hawkish stance
  • hawk within the party
Synonyms
  • hardliner

    someone who refuses to compromise on any policy, not limited to military matters

  • militarist

    someone who believes a strong military is the most important national priority

  • warmonger

    a more negative word for someone who actively wants war

Antonyms
  • dove

    someone who supports peaceful solutions and opposes military action

  • moderate

    someone who takes a middle position between hawk and dove

Usage Note

Often contrasted with dove, which describes someone who favours peace and negotiation over military action.

Common Mistakes

He is a hawk on education policy.
He is a hawk on defence spending.
'hawk' is used specifically for military or security issues, not for general strong opinions.
Idioms

have eyes like a hawk

idiom

To be able to see very well and notice every small detail, especially when others miss things.

Grandma has eyes like a hawk — she spotted a tiny crack in the vase from across the room.

The teacher had eyes like a hawk and caught every note passed between students.

watch someone like a hawk

idiom

To watch someone very closely and carefully, so that they cannot do anything wrong without being noticed.

The security guard watched the suspect like a hawk until the police arrived.

Sora's mother watched her like a hawk whenever she practised using the kitchen knife.

have (got) eyes like a hawk

idiom

To be extremely good at noticing small details or seeing things that others miss.

My teacher has eyes like a hawk and caught my tiny mistake.

Did the security guard notice the broken lock? He has eyes like a hawk.

hawk — verb

Word family

  • hawkish
    adjectiveC1
  • hawkishly
    adverbC1
  • hawk-eyed
    adjectiveB2
  • hawker
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Hawk, falcon, eagle, and kestrel are all birds of prey, but they differ in size, shape, and hunting style. A hawk has broad, rounded wings and a long tail, and it often hunts by watching from a perch and swooping down on prey. A falcon has long, pointed wings and is built for high-speed diving — the peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on earth. An eagle is much larger and heavier, with a massive wingspan, and it can carry off animals as big as a small deer. A kestrel is a small hawk that can hover in midair by flapping its wings rapidly while scanning the ground for movement. In everyday conversation, many English speakers use 'hawk' loosely for any bird of prey seen in the wild, but birdwatchers and naturalists keep the terms distinct. For example: 'We saw a hawk sitting on a fence post' is common, but 'A kestrel hovered over the highway' is more precise.

hawk ↗falcon ↗eagle ↗kestrel

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • eyes like a hawk
  • watch like a hawk
  • hawk and dove

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'hawk' comes from Old English hafoc, which goes back to a Germanic root found in Dutch havik and German Habicht. The political sense, meaning someone who favours military action, started in the early 1960s during the Cold War. It was the opposite of 'dove', which supporters of peace were called. The verb meaning 'to sell goods in the street' is a different word — it comes from an old Germanic word meaning 'to carry on the back', related to 'huckster'. The throat-clearing sense may come from the sound a person makes, which is similar to the call of a hawk.