noun
hunch
huhnch
Hunch (noun) means a feeling or guess based on instinct rather than solid evidence. Example: “I had a hunch she was lying, and it turned out I was right.”
noun
1
A feeling or guess based on instinct rather than solid evidence.
"I had a hunch she was lying, and it turned out I was right."
"Detective work is often just following a hunch until the facts catch up."
verb
1
To bend forward, rounding your back and shoulders.
"He hunched over his laptop for hours without a break."
How to use hunch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gut feeling that something is true, or the act of curling your body forward.
Common pairings
have a hunch
follow a hunch
hunch over
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Word forms
- Plural
- hunches
- Third person singular
- hunches
- Past tense
- hunched
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I had a _____ she was lying, and it turned out I was right.
Etymology
Possibly a variant of "hunk," of uncertain origin; the "intuition" sense is said to come from an old superstition that touching a hunchback's hump brought luck.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for hunch
See all rhymes for hunch →Frequently asked questions
What does “hunch” mean?
The word “hunch” means a feeling or guess based on instinct rather than solid evidence. In plain terms, a gut feeling that something is true, or the act of curling your body forward.
How do you pronounce “hunch”?
“Hunch” is pronounced huhnch (/hʌnt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hunch” in a sentence?
Here is “hunch” used in a sentence: “I had a hunch she was lying, and it turned out I was right.”
What part of speech is “hunch”?
Depending on how it is used, “hunch” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “hunch” have?
“Hunch” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling or guess based on instinct rather than solid evidence.
