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

This time of year, the ranch’s Duroc, Hampshire and Berkshire cross hogs are paddocked along a slough, grunting and squealing under the canopy of oak and walnut trees. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Lee is forever grunting and scratching and clearing his throat. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Noun

The moose kicks and grunts at first, then settles, allowing the deputy to keep working. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026

But eventually those thoughts were interrupted by a distant grunt. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 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