MEANING
To bend low with the limbs drawn close, often to hide, wait, or prepare to spring.
Use it for
Show a low, compact, ready-to-move posture.A single verb combines low posture, concealment, and latent action.
Words that belong together
- crouch behind
- crouch low
- crouch in wait
- crouch behind a wall
On the page
She crouched behind the overturned desk as footsteps crossed the hall.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- crouch
- Past tense
- crouched
- Past participle
- crouched
- Present participle
- crouching
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- crouch
- Present continuous
- am/is/are crouching
- Present perfect
- have/has crouched
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been crouching
- Past
- crouched
- Past continuous
- was/were crouching
- Past perfect
- had crouched
- Past perfect continuous
- had been crouching
- Future
- will crouch
- Future continuous
- will be crouching
- Future perfect
- will have crouched
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been crouching
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Often signals concealment, vulnerability, readiness, or a tense pause; “crouch” is lower and more compact than merely bend.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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