To settle in firmly to wait out a difficult situation, or to crouch low for shelter; also, to apply oneself seriously to a task.
Get into a safe position and wait for something difficult to pass; OR get focused and work hard.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To find shelter and wait in place for a storm, crisis, or difficult period to pass.
"Residents were told to hunker down as the hurricane approached the coastline."
It's time to hunker down and get through this together.
— Andrew Cuomo, New York Governor, press briefing during COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020
To settle down and focus seriously on a task or piece of work, ignoring distractions.
"I'm going to hunker down this weekend and finish my thesis chapter."
To crouch or squat down low, close to the ground.
"They hunkered down behind the wall to avoid being seen."
To crouch down low on one's haunches — to lower the body close to the ground.
Get into a safe position and wait for something difficult to pass; OR get focused and work hard.
Has two main figurative meanings: (1) to shelter and wait out a storm, crisis, or threat; (2) to apply oneself seriously to work. Sense 1 is very common in news media during weather events or crises. Originates from the literal meaning of crouching down low.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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