Phrase guide

hunker down

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To take shelter; to prepare oneself for some eventuality; to focus on a task.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • That test is worth half your grade, so you'd better hunker down and start studying.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To stubbornly hold to a position.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

hold stubbornly to a position

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The wife hunkered down and the husband's resistance began to break down

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stand pat, stand firm, hold firm, stand fast

4

verb

Meaning 4

sit on one's heels

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • In some cultures, the women give birth while squatting
  • The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: squat, crouch, scrunch, scrunch up, hunker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sit, sit down

5

verb

Meaning 5

take shelter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • During the sandstorm, they hunkered down in a small hut

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hide, hide out

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: arraulir-se — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • French: se retrancher — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Polish: przygotowywać się — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Polish: przygotować się — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Russian: притаи́ться (pritaítʹsja) — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Russian: засе́сть (zaséstʹ) — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Russian: окопа́ться (okopátʹsja) — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Spanish: agacharse — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Spanish: atrincherarse — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality
  • Ukrainian: засі́сти (zasísty) — take shelter; prepare for an eventuality