To hunker means to crouch down low and hold that position, usually to make yourself smaller, steadier, or more protected. When you hunker down behind a wall during a game of capture the flag, you're squatting close to the ground so you won't be spotted. A hiker caught in a sudden rainstorm might hunker beneath a rocky overhang, tucking in tight to stay dry.

The word suggests settling into a low position you plan to hold for a while, staying stable and patient rather than moving quickly or frequently. You hunker when you need to be grounded and wait something out.

People also use the phrase hunker down to mean preparing to endure something difficult by staying put and focusing. When a huge snowstorm approaches, families hunker down at home with supplies, ready to wait it out. Students might hunker down before final exams, clearing their schedules to concentrate on studying. In this sense, hunkering down means digging in your heels, committing to see something through, and refusing to be pushed off course until you've finished what needs to be done.