hunch

1 of 2

verb

hunched; hunching; hunches

transitive verb

1
: to push or put (someone or something) in a rough, careless, or hasty manner : thrust, shove
I would hunch my chair … closer to my dear and only croniesMary Nash
2
: to thrust or bend (someone or something) over into a humped or crooked position
hunched his shoulders as he headed out into the storm
sat hunched over the table reading a map
kept his … body hunched slightly forwardTennessee Williams

intransitive verb

1
: to thrust oneself forward
hunched along for a short spell of safe stepsT. B. Costain
2
a
: to assume a bent or crooked posture
folded his hands on the table and hunched forwardHugh MacLennan
b
: to draw oneself into a ball : curl up
hunch beneath the coversRandall Jarrell
c
: huddle, squat
we hunched close to the damp earthH. D. Skidmore
the mountains hunched around the valleyHelen Rich

hunch

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act or instance of pushing someone or something in a rough or careless manner : an act or instance of hunching (see hunch entry 1 sense transitive)
give him a good hunch with your footAbraham Tucker
2
a
: a thick piece : lump
barter it for a hunch of cakeFlora Thompson
b
: a rounded mass : hump
his back carried a huge hunchWilliam Scoresby
3
: a strong intuitive feeling concerning especially a future event or result
had a hunch I would find you here

Examples of hunch in a Sentence

Verb He hunched his shoulders as he headed out into the storm. he hunched next to a bush to avoid being seen Noun My hunch is that the stock is going to go up in value. “How did you know I'd be here?” “It was just a hunch.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
And for much of Monday afternoon, Mr. Trump was hunched over the defense table as Justice Merchan instructed the prospective jurors. Kate Christobek, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024 One block away, Brandi James sat hunched on the corner of 17th and J streets, surrounded by her worldly possessions. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hunch 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hunch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hunch was in 1581

Dictionary Entries Near hunch

Cite this Entry

“Hunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunch. Accessed 4 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

hunch

1 of 2 verb
1
: to push oneself forward by jerks
hunch nearer the fire
2
: to bend one's body into an arch or hump
were hunched over the table
3
: to draw up close together or into an arch
hunched my shoulders

hunch

2 of 2 noun
1
2
: a strong feeling about what will happen : intuition

More from Merriam-Webster on hunch

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