hunch over
B1 neutral intransitive
In simple words
Curve your back and shoulders forward over something, like a desk or a book.
Literal meaning: To form a hunch (a rounded curve) over something — fairly transparent.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To bend the upper body forward and round the shoulders, typically while working on or looking at something closely.
"She spent the whole afternoon hunched over her laptop, barely moving."
2 B1 neutral
To adopt a defensive or withdrawn posture by curving the back and shoulders inward.
"He hunched over against the cold wind as he walked to the station."
Usage notes
Commonly used to describe someone sitting or standing with rounded shoulders, often due to concentration or bad posture. Associated with long hours at a computer or desk. Can also be used reflexively: 'he hunched himself over the table'.
Commonly used with
desk computer keyboard book phone table
Forms
Base
hunch over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hunches over
he/she/it
Past simple
hunched over
yesterday
Past participle
hunched over
have + pp
-ing form
hunching over
continuous
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Synonyms
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