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 California Department of Fish and Wildlife advises those who come in contact with mountain lions to stay calm and remain still, never run or approach a lion and avoid crouching down or bending over. —Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026

Kunkel, a freelance journalist at a protest outside an immigration detention center in Chicago on September 26, was crouched behind a van when an agent took aim from a safe perch behind a chain link fence. —Bob Ortega, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026

People stood, crouched and leaned against cars, eating shawarma, nihari burgers, kunafa and stretchy ice cream. —Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026

Bhakta and his friends stayed inside, crouched down, until police arrived. —Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 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