crouch
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to stoop or bend low.
-
to bend close to the ground, as an animal preparing to spring or shrinking with fear.
-
to bow or stoop servilely; cringe.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
(intr) to bend low with the limbs pulled up close together, esp (of an animal) in readiness to pounce
-
(intr) to cringe, as in humility or fear
-
(tr) to bend (parts of the body), as in humility or fear
noun
Other Word Forms
- croucher noun
- crouchingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of crouch
1175–1225; Middle English crouchen, perhaps blend of couchen to lie down ( couch ) and croken to crook 1
Explanation
To crouch is to bend your knees, pull your body in, and sit on your heels. This position is called a crouch. You might crouch down to pet a kitten or catch a baseball. The catcher in baseball stands in a low crouch, waiting for the pitch. Little kids might crouch in a closet or under a table when they play hide and seek. People crouch when they’re in a small space or to keep themselves warm. When you’re in a crouch, your body takes up less space. Crouch comes from the French crochir, "become bent or crooked," after the shape of a hook or a croche.
Vocabulary lists containing crouch
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Raymond's Run"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The school alarm would pierce the air and teachers would instruct us to slide from our chairs, crouch under our desks facing the floor, and place our hands, fingers interlocked, over our necks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
"When you crouch like this, bears often try to knock you down from the side. They flip you over to get at your face, so to prevent being turned over, spread your knees a little."
From Barron's • Nov. 8, 2025
Claudine Singer, 72, brings knee pads so she can crouch in the street to scrape out the gutters with a metal claw.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025
The truck began to crouch in its stance, sinking toward the ground.
From Slate • Jun. 22, 2025
I crouch down in the dirt against one of the big boulders as the light sweeps by again, but the edges of the bright beam fall short of me.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
