grunt

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrənt 

grunted; grunting; grunts

intransitive verb

: to utter a grunt

transitive verb

: to utter with a grunt

grunter noun

grunt

2 of 2

noun

plural grunts

1

a

: the deep short sound characteristic of a hog

b

: a similar sound

2

[from the noise it makes when taken from the water] : any of a family (Haemulidae synonym Pomadasyidae) of chiefly tropical marine bony fishes

3

: a dessert made by dropping biscuit dough on top of boiling berries and steaming

blueberry grunt

4

a

: a U.S. army or marine foot soldier especially in the Vietnam War

b

: one who does routine unglamorous work

—often used attributively

grunt work

Illustration of grunt

• grunt 2

Synonyms

Verb

• chunter [British]
• mouth
• mumble
• murmur
• mutter

Noun

• grunting
• mumble
• murmur
• murmuring
• mutter
• muttering

Examples of grunt in a Sentence

Verb

The workers were grunting with effort as they lifted the heavy furniture.

She grunted a few words in reply, then turned and walked away.

Noun

the grunt of a pig

I could hear the grunts of the movers as they lifted the heavy furniture.

He answered her with a grunt.

He was a grunt who worked his way up to become an officer.

He's just a grunt in the attorney's office.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In practice, the Traverse doesn't roar or grunt like bigger-engine SUVs and sports car but is powerful from a standstill and at speed. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Some of the men shrugged, a few others grunted, and most walked away. —Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Nov. 2024

Noun

The base’s military police or grunts from the base under other commanders would be dispatched to his apartment. —Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024

While Jim was cashing NFL checks, John scraped by as a coaching grunt at five colleges, catching his break when Ray Rhodes hired him to lead the special teams with the Eagles. —Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian, of imitative origin

Noun

derivative of grunt entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

grunt

noun

ˈgrənt

1

a

: the deep short sound made by a hog

b

: a similar sound

2

: any of numerous marine fishes related to the snappers

grunt verb

grunter noun