hunk

noun \ ˈhəŋk \

Definition of hunk

1 :a large lump, piece, or portion

a hunk of bread

2 :an attractive and usually well-built man

See hunk defined for English-language learners

See hunk defined for kids

Examples of hunk in a Sentence

a steak cut into meaty hunks
That actor is such a hunk!

Recent Examples of hunk from the Web

Investigators hope tests on a three-ton hunk of concrete will soon solve the 1989 disappearance of a young mother, by determining whether her remains were fed through a wood chipper and then entombed in a Pennsylvania duplex basement.

— mark scolforo, The Seattle Times, "Police: Concrete slab may hold remains of long-missing woman," 27 Aug. 2017
Without its light and heat, the Earth would be a lifeless, frozen hunk of rock.

— rabbi dan fink, idahostatesman, "Let Monday’s eclipse be a call to action on climate change," 18 Aug. 2017
As the current or wind pulls a ship this way and that, the ship needs its anchor to bite into the sea floor, but with enough slack in the chain that the boat won't start dragging that hunk of metal all over the place.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "How Mega-Ships Drop Their Giant Anchors," 15 Aug. 2017
Never Ending Callus often takes matters into his own hands using a trusty razor blade and, at times, a foot grater to scape off hunks of dead, yellowed skin.

— sarah kinonen, Allure, "This Foot Callus Removal YouTube Channel Is Equally Disgusting and Satisfying to Watch," 14 Aug. 2017
A hunk of salt pork, the greasy leak of cheese or lard.

— Longreads, "And How Much of These Hills Is Gold," 3 Aug. 2017
In the team’s computer simulation, the target of their lightning bolt was a hunk of granite, which bears quartz crystals in large numbers.

— sid perkins, Science | AAAS, "Lightning can beat up rocks like an asteroid strike, casting doubt on past impacts," 21 July 2017
Meanwhile, the handsome hunk Nicholas is more consumed with grief over his mother’s death than his recent ascension to stardom.

— ellen emry heltzel, The Seattle Times, "‘Trees’ branches out from loss to life and a literary legacy," 9 July 2017
The chili-lime design here is perfect for a hunk of juicy melon, and also delicious with mango.

— cooking with catilin, Cincinnati.com, "Cooking with Caitlin: A versatile, magical margarita rimmer," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hunk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hunk

Dutch dialect hunke

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1813

See Words from the same year

hunk Synonyms

Synonyms

beefcake, pretty boy, stud, superstud

Related Words

babe [slang], dish, doll, dreamboat [slang], eye candy, eyeful, fox, knockout, stunner; lady-killer, sheik, womanizer

Near Antonyms

dog, grotesquerie (also grotesquery), monster, nerd

HUNK Defined for English Language Learners

hunk

noun

Definition of hunk for English Language Learners

: a large lump or piece of something
: an attractive man

HUNK Defined for Kids

hunk

noun \ ˈhəŋk \

Definition of hunk for Students

:a large lump or piece

Learn More about hunk

See words that rhyme with hunk Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hunk Spanish Central: Translation of hunk Nglish: Translation of hunk for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hunk? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

hunk

Definition of hunk

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of hunk in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hunk from the Web

Origin and Etymology of hunk

hunk Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

HUNK Defined for English Language Learners

hunk

Definition of hunk for English Language Learners

HUNK Defined for Kids

hunk

Definition of hunk for Students

Learn More about hunk

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066