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."
hunch over
B1 neutral intransitive
To bend the top of the body forward and round the shoulders, often while focusing on something.
In plain English
Curve your back and shoulders forward over something, like a desk or a book.
What does "hunch over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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To adopt a defensive or withdrawn posture by curving the back and shoulders inward.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."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To form a hunch (a rounded curve) over something — fairly transparent.
Actually means
Curve your back and shoulders forward over something, like a desk or a book.
Usage tip
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'.
Words that pair with "hunch over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
desk computer keyboard book phone table
How to conjugate "hunch over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "hunch over" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hunch over" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "hunch over"
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