English Dictionary |
HUNKER DOWN
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Dictionary entry overview: What does hunker down mean?
• HUNKER DOWN (verb)
The verb HUNKER DOWN has 3 senses:
3. hold stubbornly to a position
Familiarity information: HUNKER DOWN used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Sit on one's heels
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
crouch; hunker; hunker down; scrunch; scrunch up; squat
Context example:
The children hunkered down to protect themselves from the sandstorm
Hypernyms (to "hunker down" is one way to...):
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 2
Meaning:
Take shelter
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Context example:
During the sandstorm, they hunkered down in a small hut
Hypernyms (to "hunker down" is one way to...):
hide; hide out (be or go into hiding; keep out of sight, as for protection and safety)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 3
Meaning:
Hold stubbornly to a position
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
The wife hunkered down and the husband's resistance began to break down
Hypernyms (to "hunker down" is one way to...):
hold firm; stand fast; stand firm; stand pat (refuse to abandon one's opinion or belief)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Context examples
For instance: Opportunity, as a solar powered rover, would have to hunker down to save energy; the upcoming InSight lander's parameters would need to be adjusted for safe entry, descent and landing in November; and all the cameras on rovers and orbiters would need to deal with low visibility.
(Dust Storms Linked to Gas Escape from Mars Atmosphere, NASA)
Learn English with... Proverbs |
"If they don't exchange a few words, father and son will never know one another." (Bhutanese proverb)
"He who walks slowly arrives first." (Arabic proverb)
"He who has money and friends, turns his nose at justice." (Corsican proverb)