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
Consumers are also hunkering down and delaying some purchases as their confidence in the health of the economy plunges.
—
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 May 2025
At least 23 children from the cheer camp were hunkered down behind crime scene tape, waiting to be reunited with their families.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
The teens hunkered down under some trees and waited for help as windy weather rolled in, the rescue agency’s drone lead Darren Keralla told the news outlet.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 24 Mar. 2025
When there is no trust in the near future business hunkers down and waits it out, fearing a recession.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hunker down
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Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 1 May 2025
At least 23 children from the cheer camp were hunkered down behind crime scene tape, waiting to be reunited with their families.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
The teens hunkered down under some trees and waited for help as windy weather rolled in, the rescue agency’s drone lead Darren Keralla told the news outlet.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 24 Mar. 2025
When there is no trust in the near future business hunkers down and waits it out, fearing a recession.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 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 7 May. 2025.
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