grunt
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to utter the deep, guttural sound characteristic of a hog.
-
to utter a similar sound.
-
to grumble, as in discontent.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a sound of grunting.
-
New England Cooking. a dessert, typically of cherries, peaches, or apples sweetened and spiced, and topped with biscuit dough.
-
any food fish of the family Pomadasyidae (Haemulidae), found chiefly in tropical and subtropical seas, that emits grunting sounds.
-
Slang. a soldier, especially an infantryman.
-
Slang. a common or unskilled worker; laborer.
verb
-
(intr) (esp of pigs and some other animals) to emit a low short gruff noise
-
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to express something gruffly
he grunted his answer
noun
-
the characteristic low short gruff noise of pigs, etc, or a similar sound, as of disgust
-
any of various mainly tropical marine sciaenid fishes, such as Haemulon macrostomum ( Spanish grunt ), that utter a grunting sound when caught
-
slang an infantry soldier or US Marine, esp in the Vietnam War
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gruntsimple
-
gruntssimple
-
have gruntedperfect
-
has gruntedperfect
-
am gruntingprogressive
-
are gruntingprogressive
-
is gruntingprogressive
-
have been gruntingperfect progressive
-
has been gruntingperfect progressive
Past
-
gruntedsimple
-
had gruntedperfect
-
was gruntingprogressive
-
were gruntingprogressive
-
had been gruntingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of grunt
First recorded before 900; Middle English grunten, Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian “to grunt”; cognate with German grunzen, Latin grunnīre
Explanation
If your younger brother is particularly grouchy, he might simply grunt in answer to your question about whose turn it is to take out the garbage. A grunt is a short, deep sound. If you think about the noise a pig makes, you'll have a good idea of what a grunt sounds like. It's an animal-like sound that people make when they're inarticulate, angry, sullen, or lazy — or sometimes if they're hurt or afraid. Pigs and other animals grunt too, no matter what their moods may be. The Old English root word, grunnettan, most likely came from the sound of a grunt.
Vocabulary lists containing grunt
Instead of "Said": Vexed Verbiage to Express Anger
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Shiloh
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Kira-Kira
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
More than their predecessors, they have an innate versatility with the fast-evolving technology and little deference for the notion they have to pay their dues with repetitive grunt work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
You cannot take the pain out of writing, but you can lessen some of the grunt work and redirect your energy, and despair, elsewhere.
From Slate ● May 24, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka was called for hindrance for a change in her grunt during her Australian Open semi-final against Elina Svitolina in January.
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
Businesses may determine it’s not an effective move in the short run to keep giving new employees textbook grunt work as they slowly build their experience.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 28, 2026
“Why not? In the long run it's not going to matter. Why are you so afraid of being on your own? Growing up? Doing a little grunt work.”
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
Hedgehogs may be communicating with more than just snuffles, grunts and snorts, according to scientists who have discovered the animal's hearing range.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
Of course, the Patriots won their six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Grumpy Lobster Boat Captain Bill Belichick, who built a dynastic partnership before it fizzled in a fog of grunts and perceived slights.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026
Scam centre staff run the "whole gamut", from expendable grunts held in slave-like conditions to skilled programmers working for high salaries, said veteran Myanmar expert David Scott Mathieson, a former Human Rights Watch monitor.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
“Girl. Hm. Yeah. Jeez,” she grunts, as if realizing something.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2024
Sometimes for a whole day they talked in sea lion grunts or frigate bird squawks or plankton wiggles.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
He grunted as West and three men transferred him from the small plane to the truck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025
Several times, Freeman grunted as he rolled soft grounders toward first base.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025
As the video from the event shows, he threw his back into it, taxing himself enough that he grunted from the exertion.
From Salon ● Jan. 22, 2025
Sitting in the gallery, Peterson shook his head and grunted in disagreement during Brill’s argument.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 18, 2023
Clare grunted as he heaved the Tome onto his lap.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
It’s why Carson Zone is at the gym every Monday and Friday, grunting into weighted hip thrusts and pushing through heavy staggered lunges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
She said a paramedic walked past, so the pair tried to get his attention as the woman "appeared to be in distress and was making grunting noises" but "did not appear to be receiving attention".
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
With the match on serve, Sabalenka was hit with a hindrance call for grunting, triggering a long video review and boos.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
You could choose Homer Simpson grunting “D’oh!” or Eddie Van Halen shredding part of “Eruption.”
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2025
Another bump of grunting head against the tent, this time near your shoulders.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
