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
But the ones that do get rewarded with a deep, meditative little cocktail, friendlier than a Toronto but still prickly with bitterness and stout with proof, a cocktail worth hunkering down with on these dark and interminable nights of January.
—
Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2026
The weather down here is warm practically year-round, so when temperatures do drop, people tend to stock up on groceries, swaddle themselves in blankets, and hunker down with something warm to eat.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
As the storm moves east, more states are warning residents to hunker down in the coming days.
—Kristin Wright, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
Many hunkered down in the towns of Sutter and Meridian, or drove farther to Colusa or Williams.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hunker down
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Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2026
The weather down here is warm practically year-round, so when temperatures do drop, people tend to stock up on groceries, swaddle themselves in blankets, and hunker down with something warm to eat.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
As the storm moves east, more states are warning residents to hunker down in the coming days.
—Kristin Wright, NPR, 29 Dec. 2025
Many hunkered down in the towns of Sutter and Meridian, or drove farther to Colusa or Williams.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 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 6 Jan. 2026.
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