Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a rounded back and shoulders; not upright: Describes a posture where the upper back is curved forward, often due to age, habit, or physical condition, giving a bent-over appearance.

Usage

• The word "hunched" is primarily used to describe a person's physical posture. It often implies a temporary or habitual position, such as when sitting over a desk, or a more permanent physical state.
• It is commonly used with verbs like "be," "sit," "stand," or "walk."

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The student sat hunched over his textbook all night.
  • An old man walked by, hunched and leaning on a cane.
  • She was hunched against the cold wind.

Advanced Usage

• "to be hunched over": This is a very common collocation emphasizing the action of bending forward over something.
  • He was hunched over his computer, typing furiously.
• "to sit/stand hunched": Used to specify the posture while in a particular position.
  • Try not to sit hunched for long periods; it's bad for your back.

Variants and Related Words

• Hunch (verb): To bend the top part of your body forward and raise your shoulders.
  • He hunched his shoulders against the rain.
• Hunch (noun): An intuitive feeling or guess.
  • I have a hunch she'll be late. (Note: This is a different, common meaning of the noun form, unrelated to posture.)

Synonyms

• Stooped: Bent forward and downward.
• Crouched: In a position with the knees bent and the upper body bent forward (can imply readiness to move, while "hunched" is more static).
• Curved: Having a bend that is not straight (more general).

Antonyms

• Erect: Upright in posture.
• Straight: Not bent or curved.

Related Phrases

• Hunched shoulders: A phrase describing the specific physical manifestation of this posture.
  • Years of desk work gave him permanently hunched shoulders.

Adjective

1. having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
   • a little oldish misshapen stooping woman