grunt

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrənt 

grunted; grunting; grunts

intransitive verb

: to utter a grunt

He didn't answer, only grunted.

transitive verb

: to utter with a grunt

"No," he grunted.

grunter noun

grunt

2 of 2

noun

plural grunts

1

a

: the deep short sound characteristic of a hog

b

: a similar sound

2

[from the noise it makes when taken from the water] : any of a family (Haemulidae synonym Pomadasyidae) of chiefly tropical marine bony fishes

3

: a dessert made by dropping biscuit dough on top of boiling berries and steaming

blueberry grunt

4

a

: a U.S. army or marine foot soldier especially in the Vietnam War

b

: one who does routine unglamorous work

—often used attributively

grunt work

Illustration of grunt

• grunt 2

Synonyms of grunt

Verb

• mutter
• mumble
• murmur
• mouth

Noun

• grunting
• mutter
• muttering
• whisper
• mumble

Examples of grunt in a Sentence

Verb

The workers were grunting with effort as they lifted the heavy furniture.

She grunted a few words in reply, then turned and walked away.

Noun

the grunt of a pig

I could hear the grunts of the movers as they lifted the heavy furniture.

He answered her with a grunt.

He was a grunt who worked his way up to become an officer.

He's just a grunt in the attorney's office.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Someone somewhere shrieks, then grunts before hitting the ground with a thud. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Pigs grunt and chickens squawk in the mist, laundry is hung out on the line, and air conditioning is non-existent. — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Ranging from the sound of emergency sirens and birds screeching to low grunts and guttural hoots, their vocalizations reverberate from a sanctuary in the hot, dry hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, north of Los Angeles. — Jaimie Ding, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

As Yerman called for help from the grunts and worked on getting medical evacuation helicopters inbound, Capers ordered Crepeau to call in mortars dangerously close to the Marines’ position—a risky gamble that silenced the enemy guns. — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian, of imitative origin

Noun

derivative of grunt entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for grunt

• blunt
• brunt
• bunt
• front
• shunt
• stunt
• affront
• confront
• exeunt
• forefront
• lakefront
• manhunt

Kids Definition

grunt

noun

ˈgrənt

1

a

: the deep short sound made by a hog

b

: a similar sound

2

: any of numerous marine fishes related to the snappers

grunt verb

grunter noun