1 B2 informal
To lie down and sleep somewhere informally or temporarily, especially not in your usual bed.
"We can bunk down in the living room — I'll grab some sleeping bags."
inseparable
bunk down
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To settle down to sleep somewhere, especially in a temporary or improvised location.
In plain English
To sleep somewhere, usually not in your own bed.
What does "bunk down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To prepare for sleep by settling into a sleeping place.
"The soldiers bunked down for the night in whatever shelter they could find."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To lower oneself down into a bunk (a narrow sleeping berth).
Actually means
To sleep somewhere, usually not in your own bed.
Usage tip
Common in informal British and Australian English. Often implies a temporary arrangement such as sleeping on a friend's couch or in a makeshift bed. Related to 'bunk' meaning a narrow bed.
Words that pair with "bunk down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
couch floor sleeping bag tent friend's place sofa
How to conjugate "bunk down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bunk down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bunks down
he/she/it
Past simple
bunked down
yesterday
Past participle
bunked down
have + pp
-ing form
bunking down
continuous
Hear "bunk down" in the wild
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