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
The most difficult thing is to hunker down and have that grit to keep going when there's no work.
—
Sydni Ellis, People.com, 26 June 2025
Just as likely, the regime will hunker down under duress, prolonging its hold on power.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
Be There For Someone Else Instead of hunkering down, shift your focus outward.
—Dr. Rina Koshkina, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Mitch Marner was the hero in Game 2, scoring the go-ahead goal five minutes and fifty seconds into the third period, before Toronto's defense hunkered down for the final 14 minutes of action.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hunker down
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Sydni Ellis, People.com, 26 June 2025
Just as likely, the regime will hunker down under duress, prolonging its hold on power.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
Be There For Someone Else Instead of hunkering down, shift your focus outward.
—Dr. Rina Koshkina, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Mitch Marner was the hero in Game 2, scoring the go-ahead goal five minutes and fifty seconds into the third period, before Toronto's defense hunkered down for the final 14 minutes of action.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 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 21 Jul. 2025.
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