1. past tense of hunker; to crouch or squat down low
2. past tense of hunker down; to settle in for a long period or to prepare for difficult conditions
Usage: often used with ‘down’

Examples

• She hunkered behind the wall to avoid being seen.
• The children hunkered down in the basement during the storm.
• He hunkered in the tall grass, waiting for the deer to appear.
• The family hunkered down for the long winter ahead.
• The soldiers hunkered in their foxholes during the bombardment.
• We hunkered down with supplies before the hurricane hit.