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

Their touring schedule will take them around the country, while other boy bands like Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block hunker down in Las Vegas with residencies at Sphere and Dolby Live at Park MGM, respectively. —Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026

The world was hunkering down — cut expenses, save money. —Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026

Belton experiences As sirens wailed the night of the tornado, Bill Anderson hunkered down in his basement a mile and a half away from the cemetery, Anderson told The Star by text. —Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026

Guests hunker down for board games and orchard martinis in the three-suite farmhouse, which can be rented out in full on occasion. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for hunker down

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