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

The beaming toddler could be seen crouching over a large pumpkin outside while wearing a navy blue rain jacket, blue jeans that were cuffed at the bottom, and a pair of orange boots. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 Nov. 2026

Video shows that intrepid fan crouched behind the defensive line and then batted down the pass from Davidson. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026

The final photo in the set featured Hewitt and Davidson crouched beside the wagon, smiling lovingly at their daughter. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2026

Madelyn Cline crouched on the floor to chat with a seated Quen Blackwell, while nearby, Zoe Saldaña and Katie Couric were deep in conversation. — Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 29 Oct. 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