hunch

1 of 2

verb

ˈhənch 

hunched; hunching; hunches

transitive verb

1

: to push or put (someone or something) in a rough, careless, or hasty manner : thrust, shove

I would hunch my chair … closer to my dear and only cronies

—Mary Nash

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

intransitive verb

1

: to thrust oneself forward

hunched along for a short spell of safe steps

—T. B. Costain

2

a

: to assume a bent or crooked posture

folded his hands on the table and hunched forward

—Hugh MacLennan

b

: to draw oneself into a ball : curl up

hunch beneath the covers

—Randall Jarrell

c

: huddle, squat

we hunched close to the damp earth

—H. D. Skidmore

the mountains hunched around the valley

—Helen Rich

hunch

2 of 2

noun

1

: 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

2

a

: a thick piece : lump

barter it for a hunch of cake

—Flora Thompson

b

: a rounded mass : hump

his back carried a huge hunch

—William Scoresby

3

: a strong intuitive feeling concerning especially a future event or result

had a hunch I would find you here

Synonyms

Verb

• couch
• crouch
• huddle
• hunker (down)
• scrunch
• squat
• squinch

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

Verb

At the height of his career, chef Prateek Sadhu left Mumbai for his Himalayan roots, creating a restaurant that is reimagining dining in India March 18, 2025 Prateek Sadhu is hunched over an arbi stem freshly ripped from the earth, shaking off a thick garland of dirt that clings to the root. —Sarah Khan, Bon Appétit, 18 Mar. 2025

Randall hunched over his drums and played a fast Ringo shuffle. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025

Noun

Everyone who wants to build a winning men's NCAA Tournament bracket is in the same boat: Pick a bunch of favorites, play a few hunches and cross your fingers. —Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2025

But he’s got enough of a hunch to suggest that Charlie learned his mind-control techniques from the CIA. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hunch

• have a hunch

Rhymes for hunch

• brunch
• bunch
• chinch
• crunch
• lunch
• punch
• keypunch

Kids Definition

hunch

1 of 2 verb

ˈhənch 

1

: 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 noun

1

: hump entry 1 sense 1

2

: a strong feeling about what will happen : intuition