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
Over the decades, the periodic exchange of rockets forced people on both sides to hunker down into deep defensive tunnels hewn from the solid rock.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The changing weather and fast-approaching holidays make this week a great time to hunker down.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hunker down
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Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The changing weather and fast-approaching holidays make this week a great time to hunker down.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025
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
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 3 Nov. 2025.
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