crouch
Americanverb (used without object)
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crouches,
present (3rd person singular)
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crouched,
past participle, past
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crouching
present participle
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to stoop or bend low.
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to bend close to the ground, as an animal preparing to spring or shrinking with fear.
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to bow or stoop servilely; cringe.
verb (used with object)
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crouches,
present (3rd person singular)
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crouched,
past participle, past
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crouching
present participle
noun
verb
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(intr) to bend low with the limbs pulled up close together, esp (of an animal) in readiness to pounce
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(intr) to cringe, as in humility or fear
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(tr) to bend (parts of the body), as in humility or fear
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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crouchsimple
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crouchessimple
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have crouchedperfect
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has crouchedperfect
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am crouchingprogressive
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are crouchingprogressive
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is crouchingprogressive
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have been crouchingperfect progressive
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has been crouchingperfect progressive
Past
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crouchedsimple
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had crouchedperfect
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was crouchingprogressive
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were crouchingprogressive
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had been crouchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of crouch
1175–1225; Middle English crouchen, perhaps blend of couchen to lie down ( see couch) and croken to crook 1
Explanation
To crouch is to bend your knees, pull your body in, and sit on your heels. This position is called a crouch. You might crouch down to pet a kitten or catch a baseball. The catcher in baseball stands in a low crouch, waiting for the pitch. Little kids might crouch in a closet or under a table when they play hide and seek. People crouch when they’re in a small space or to keep themselves warm. When you’re in a crouch, your body takes up less space. Crouch comes from the French crochir, "become bent or crooked," after the shape of a hook or a croche.
Vocabulary lists containing crouch
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"Raymond's Run"
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Others carry the earth to a nearby seasonal river, where mostly women crouch in the murky water, washing and sifting mud and sand hoping to detect a tiny trace of the element.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
The school alarm would pierce the air and teachers would instruct us to slide from our chairs, crouch under our desks facing the floor, and place our hands, fingers interlocked, over our necks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
At no point can a skier duck into a crouch and let gravity carry him while he catches his breath.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
The best thing to do is to crouch face-down, bend the legs underneath the torso and clasp both hands behind the neck, Nakae said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 8, 2025
Her hands landed on my shoulders, and I felt her crouch to my left.
From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone
The woman crouches, coaxing the animal with sweet compliments and a stick of sugarcane she brought with her.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
He crouches unusually low in the ring to maintain his balance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 24, 2026
On the other end of the spectrum crouches The Liver King, the subject of a recently debuted episode of Netflix’s “Untold” sports documentary series.
From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2025
He crouches and points his long, camouflage-clad lens at a sudden frenzy of movement in the ferns beside the footpath.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2024
It crouches low and creeps toward me, its lips peeling back from its white teeth.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
The man was crouched behind a 5-foot-tall gun safe Roebuck had purchased a few weeks earlier.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Though the main river channel lay some distance away, the surge had overflowed its banks, extending to the slope where Hamal was crouched behind a large rock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Then three soldiers climbed onto the rubble, in a line, as if in formation, and crouched down to listen.
From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026
The 40-year-old Ghanaian walked a few steps to the corner of the silent court room, crouched and covered his face.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
It showed a split screen; on the left was a frozen image of Elliot crouched in a blacksmith’s shop, and on the right was the image of that big meeting I’d Glitched into.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
About 40% of people in their 60s have some difficulty crouching, kneeling or stooping.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
McClellan walked around to each child, crouching down to help.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Now, when we approach kids crowding the sidewalk, a curbside puddle or a dog crouching to pee, I stop and extend my arm like Sir Walter Raleigh, offering Sarah the right of first passage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Ball kids placed their hands on their feet - instead of the court - to avoid burning their palms when crouching at the net post.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
I rearranged a few things to make room for Dad’s favorite picture, the one of me crouching next to the shark with my sketch pad.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
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