MEANING
1. To lower the head or body quickly to avoid a blow or another threat.
2. To evade an unwelcome obligation, encounter, or question.
Use it for
immediate bodily avoidance; anticipated impactGive the defensive response a precise physical direction.
Words that belong together
- duck under a beam
- duck a blow
- duck behind cover
On the page
She ducked as the loose cable swung past.
He ducked behind the wall when the glass began to fall.
At the sharp crack overhead, everyone ducked before looking up.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- duck / ducks
- Past tense
- ducked
- Past participle
- ducked
- Present participle
- ducking
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- duck / ducks
- Present continuous
- am/is/are ducking
- Present perfect
- have/has ducked
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been ducking
- Past
- ducked
- Past continuous
- was/were ducking
- Past perfect
- had ducked
- Past perfect continuous
- had been ducking
- Future
- will duck / ducks
- Future continuous
- will be ducking
- Future perfect
- will have ducked
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been ducking
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. A specific protective movement, unlike general retreat. Figuratively, duck can mean avoid a responsibility or question. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): duck, ducks, ducked, ducked, ducking.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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