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.
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Verb
There were grunting high fives as, one after another, all cleared the exposure.—Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025 That’s where the name came from, the R and the J and the sound pigs make grunting.—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Noun
Refinements since then pushed the output to 300 hp and 365 lb-ft, offering a mild edge over the outgoing engine, but a new six-speed automatic replacing the old four-speed one meant the SUV could make better use of the grunt on hand.—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 June 2025 That means a 500-W motor with similar incline-busting grunt and top speed.—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grunt
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian, of imitative origin
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