hunker down
phrasal verb
hunkered down; hunkering down; hunkers down
chiefly US
1
: to lower the body to the ground by bending the legs
The hikers hunkered down under a cliff until the storm passed.
2
: to stay in a place for a period of time
The leaders hunkered down at a country estate for difficult peace negotiations.
Examples of hunker down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whether that means hunkering down with old friends, or making new ones.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
The second morning, Bob hunkered down next to a thick spruce on a frosty hogback between Disappointment Lake and Snowbank.
—Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025
Fall is the cozy season for a reason—the crisp nights, changing leaves, and warm flavors encourage bundling up and hunkering down for the cooler months.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Best Early Amazon Prime Day Outdoor Deals While much of the country is preparing to hunker down indoors as the temperatures drop, Southerners are just beginning to enjoy the cooler weather from our porches and patios.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hunker down
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Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
The second morning, Bob hunkered down next to a thick spruce on a frosty hogback between Disappointment Lake and Snowbank.
—Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025
Fall is the cozy season for a reason—the crisp nights, changing leaves, and warm flavors encourage bundling up and hunkering down for the cooler months.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Best Early Amazon Prime Day Outdoor Deals While much of the country is preparing to hunker down indoors as the temperatures drop, Southerners are just beginning to enjoy the cooler weather from our porches and patios.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hunker down
Cite this Entry
“Hunker down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunker%20down. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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