grunt

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

grunter

3 of 3

noun (2)

grunt·​er

-tə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that grunts

specifically : hog

2

: any of various fishes which make a grunting noise: such as

a

: grunt

b

: drum

especially : freshwater drum

c

: either of two sea breams of southern Africa

3

: a horse subject to grunting

Synonyms of grunt

Verb

• mutter
• mumble
• murmur
• mouth

Noun (1)

• 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 (1)

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

According to the complaint, Willis has been left completely incapacitated since a brief stint at Summit Malibu in early 2024, unable to move or communicate beyond occasionally opening her eyes and sometimes grunting. — Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026

Advertisement One of the film’s comedic bits is your character and Jake Johnson’s character playing against a team in which both players grunt loudly on the court. — Sean Gregory, Time, 23 July 2026

Noun

JadePuffer shows that while fully autonomous AI hackers have not yet arrived, agentic AI is starting to automate the grunt work of ransomware. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

As for grunt, the GTX90 is fitted with two MAN V-12 engines delivering 2,200 hp each for a top speed of 35 knots and a range of 300 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 30 knots. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun (1)

derivative of grunt entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English gruntare, from grunten + -are, -er -er

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun (1)

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