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

Will Smith crouched, his left knee on the ground and his mitt grazing the dirt as his Team USA teammate, Mason Miller, strode towards the plate. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Over the years, there’s been some confusion about the value of crouching down like a baseball catcher to limit your own height. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026

The video begins with a shoeless Kennedy, dressed in a button-down shirt, trousers, and a tie, approaching the snakes slowly, crouching down as the snakes slither into a corner of the patio. —Mason Leib, ABC News, 27 May 2026

Sam discovers the thing crouched over his new friend’s lifeless body, seemingly feeding off him. —ArsTechnica, 26 May 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