hunker down

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

For their collaborative full-length debut, Eris Drew and Octo Octa hunkered down in their New Hampshire cabin to craft a celebratory, sample-heavy tribute to the maximalist dance music of yore. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026

Despite the appeal of hunkering down in the hotel, just being outside gave me energy. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Known as the pioneers of the hard rock Las Vegas residency, Mötley Crüe first hunkered down in Vegas in 2012 with its Takes On Sin City stint. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

But Boise hunkered down, and goalkeeper Jonathan Kliewer turned aside three shots to preserve the shutout. — Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for hunker down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown