crouch

verb

ˈkrau̇ch 

crouched; crouching; crouches

intransitive verb

1

a

: to lower the body stance especially by bending the legs

The sprinter crouched and was ready to go.

b

: to lie close to the ground with the legs bent

… a pair of cats, crouching on the brink of a fight.

—Aldous Huxley

2

: to bend or bow servilely : cringe

3

: to stand at a low height

Cottages crouched along the river.

transitive verb

: to bow especially in humility or fear : bend

The dog crouched its head.

crouch noun

Synonyms of crouch

• huddle
• hunch
• squat

Examples of crouch in a Sentence

She crouched down, trying to get a closer look at the spider.

The lion crouched in the tall grass, waiting to attack the gazelle.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots and showed people crouching and running for cover. —Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 15 June 2026

Peters crouched down and used a little body language to try to coax the ball fair. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026

Bystander video captured the sound of at least seven shots and showed people crouching and running for cover. —Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026

What’s the big deal with tying laces, unless bending or crouching is a big inconvenience? —Elaina Verhoff, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for crouch

• bouche
• couch
• grouch
• ouch
• pouch
• slouch
• vouch

Kids Definition

crouch

verb

ˈkrau̇ch 

: to stoop or bend low with the arms and legs close to the body

crouch noun