Hunch
/hʌntʃ/
Definitions
2 meaningsA feeling or belief based on intuition rather than facts.
/hʌntʃ/
A feeling or intuition about something.
I had a hunch that the movie would be a blockbuster.
💡 Simply: It's like a little voice inside you that whispers, 'I think this might happen,' even if you don't have any proof. Imagine you have a hunch your friend will call, and then they do! That's a hunch!
👶 For kids: It's like a little voice in your head that tells you something might happen, even if you don't know why.
More Examples
Despite a lack of evidence, she acted on her hunch.
My hunch turned out to be right, and we won the game.
How It's Used
"I had a hunch that he was lying."
"Some psychologists investigate the reliability of hunches in decision-making."
To raise or round one's back by bending forward, often in a stooping posture.
/hʌntʃ/
To arch one's back; to assume a bent posture.
He hunched his shoulders against the cold.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to make yourself smaller, maybe because it's cold or you're trying to sneak past someone. You're hunching your shoulders and bending forward!
👶 For kids: To bend your body forward like you're trying to be small.
More Examples
She hunched over her book, engrossed in the story.
The old man hunched as he walked, using a cane for support.
How It's Used
"She hunched over her desk to read."
"Prolonged computer use can lead to hunching."
Idioms & expressions
hunch over
To bend one's back and shoulders forward, often while seated.
"He hunched over his computer all day."
From Middle English *hunchen* (to shrug the shoulders), of uncertain origin, possibly related to words meaning "to strike" or "to push."
The verb 'hunch' appeared in the 15th century with meanings related to 'shrug' and 'huddle'. The noun form developed later.
Memory tip
Think of a gut feeling, like a hunchback's intuition.
Word Origin
"possibly related to words meaning "to strike" or "to push" or a derivative of *hunchen* (to shrug shoulders)."