slouch

American  

[slouch] / slaʊtʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to sit or stand with an awkward, drooping posture.

2. to move or walk with loosely drooping body and careless gait.

3. to have a droop or downward bend, as a hat.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to droop or bend down, as the shoulders or a hat.

noun

1. a drooping or bending forward of the head and shoulders; an awkward, drooping posture or carriage.

2. an awkward, clumsy, or slovenly person.

3. slouch hat.

4. a lazy, inept, or inefficient person.

   Synonyms:

   sluggard, loafer, laggard

slouch British  

/ slaʊtʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to sit or stand with a drooping bearing

2. (intr) to walk or move with an awkward slovenly gait

3. (tr) to cause (the shoulders) to droop

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noun

1. a drooping carriage

2. informal (usually used in negative constructions) an incompetent or slovenly person

   he's no slouch at football

Other Word Forms

• sloucher noun
• slouching adjective
• slouchingly adverb
• unslouched adjective
• unslouching adjective

Etymology

Origin of slouch

First recorded in 1505–15; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Fact: Many people spend hours slouching while staring at a computer or focusing on cellphones that draw the eyes down and curve the neck.

From Science Daily

Penelope slouched down in her seat, held up her program to shield her face, and hoped the show would begin soon.

From Literature

She’s slouched on the couch, singing into a microphone; her brother is huddled over his laptop on the nearby desk.

From The Wall Street Journal

You cannot just slouch in off the street on a whim, assuming you have a couple hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket.

From The Wall Street Journal

Photos on social media showed them slouched on plastic chairs, swathed in plastic bags fogged up by their breath.

From BBC

Related Words

• crouch
• droop
• loll