hunker down
Americanverb phrase
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to crouch or squat on one’s heels.
Some of the taller kids have trouble with the exercises that involve a lot of hunkering down.
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to hide, hide out, or take shelter, often for just a few hours or less, as from a pursuer or a storm.
Runaways hunkered down in all sorts of places along the Underground Railroad.
Rain pelted our boat through the night, but we were able to hunker down in a small harbor until daybreak.
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to settle in to the safety of one’s home or other designated shelter for a potentially prolonged time, as would be necessitated by a natural disaster or an outbreak of a contagious disease.
Before hunkering down, we made sure we had enough food, water, batteries, and first-aid supplies to last at least three weeks.
Make a plan, and prepare to hunker down.
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to hold resolutely or stubbornly to a policy, opinion, etc., when confronted by criticism, opposition, or unfavorable circumstances.
Rather than moving toward compromise, both sides continue to hunker down.
He hunkered down and refused to admit his guilt.
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to give one’s full and earnest attention to a project, assignment, or other obligation.
No partying for me this weekend—I’ve got to hunker down and finish this term paper.
Etymology
Origin of hunker down
First recorded in 1720–30; originally Scottish; hunker ( def. ) + down 1 ( def. )
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.
Local authorities advised residents to hunker down, with rain forecast for the next day and a half.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Determined to survive, Iran might initially hunker down or seek to draw out any conflict.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
Instead of making a run for it, he resolves to hunker down until the heat is off.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
Fresh food and bread were wiped off supermarket shelves as residents prepared to hunker down, while shop owners piled sandbags in front of their stores.
From BBC • Sep. 22, 2025
“It wasn’t pretty. That’s all I know. Best if you crawl back under your rock, hunker down, and wait this out.”
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
