hunched; hunching; hunches
1
2
: to thrust or bend (someone or something) over into a humped or crooked position
hunched his shoulders as he headed out into the storm
sat hunched over the table reading a map
kept his … body hunched slightly forward—
Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams1
: to thrust oneself forward
hunched along for a short spell of safe steps—T. B. Costain
T. B. Costain2
a
: to assume a bent or crooked posture
folded his hands on the table and hunched forward—Hugh MacLennan
Hugh MacLennan
b
: to draw oneself into a ball : curl up
hunch beneath the covers—Randall Jarrell
Randall Jarrell1
: an act or instance of pushing someone or something in a rough or careless manner : an act or instance of hunching (see hunch entry 1 sense transitive)
give him a good hunch with your foot—Abraham Tucker
Abraham Tucker2
3
: a strong intuitive feeling concerning especially a future event or result
had a hunch I would find you here
Synonyms
Examples of hunch in a Sentence
Verb
He hunched his shoulders as he headed out into the storm.
he hunched next to a bush to avoid being seen
Noun
My hunch is that the stock is going to go up in value.
“How did you know I'd be here?” “It was just a hunch.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
His lips are set, his eyes confrontational almost, though his posture seems delicate, tender, shoulders hunched.
—Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Dave Lawler, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
So, rather than attempt to procure funding to conduct a new survey, Auld-Thomas investigated a hunch: Perhaps another party had already mapped the area.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hunch 
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Verb
Grace was losing it: her peace, her grip, her ability to stand upright after spending so long hunched over and terrified.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
His lips are set, his eyes confrontational almost, though his posture seems delicate, tender, shoulders hunched.
—Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
But the polls going into Election Day don't even provide the merest hunch of whether former President Trump or Vice President Harris will win.
—Dave Lawler, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
So, rather than attempt to procure funding to conduct a new survey, Auld-Thomas investigated a hunch: Perhaps another party had already mapped the area.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hunch
Dictionary Entries Near hunch
Cite this Entry
“Hunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunch. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hunch
1 of 2 verb1
: to push oneself forward by jerks
hunch nearer the fire
2
: to bend one's body into an arch or hump
were hunched over the table
3
: to draw up close together or into an arch
hunched my shoulders
hunch
2 of 2 noun2
: a strong feeling about what will happen : intuition
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