What are the definitions of “hunker down”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Settle in a place as comfortably as possible to stay there.
The troops HUNKERED DOWN in the building.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “hunker down”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb hunker down is to settle in a place as comfortably as possible to stay there for a while. It can be used to describe people preparing for a storm, staying in a shelter, or getting comfortable in a new environment.
What are the different verb forms of “hunker down”?
| Root Verb | hunker down |
| Third Person Singular Present | hunkers down |
| Present Participle | hunkering down |
| Simple Past | hunkered down |
| Past Participle | hunkered down |
Example
During the storm, the family hunkered down in the basement.
Example
She hunkers down in her room to study for the exam.
Example
They are hunkering down in the cabin for the weekend.
Example
We hunkered down in the shelter during the tornado.
Example
The animals had hunkered down in their burrows to escape the cold.
What kind of phrasal verb is “hunker down”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Intransitive verb
“hunker down” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
The family hunkered down during the storm.
Example
The soldiers hunkered down in the trenches.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“hunker down” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The family hunkered down during the storm.
Example
The soldiers hunkered down in the trenches.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “hunker down”?
Good things to know
Does “hunker down” have an informal or formal tone?
Hunker down is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. For example, it can be used in a news report about a storm or in a conversation between friends discussing their weekend plans.
