# hunch

/ˈhəntʃ/ (US) · /hˈʌntʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hunch
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. an intuitive feeling

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a feeling or guess that something is true, even if you do not have proof yet.

For teachers: an intuitive feeling or premonition regarding a situation or event, lacking immediate empirical evidence.

- I had a hunch that the meeting would be cancelled, so I stayed home.
- The detective followed a gut hunch that the witness was withholding information, despite the lack of physical evidence at the scene.

Usage: Commonly used with the verbs 'have', 'follow', or 'act on'.

### 2. to bend the back

verb · CEFR B2

to lean forward and raise your shoulders, often because you are cold, tired, or hiding.

For teachers: to arch the back and draw the shoulders forward and upward, often as a postural response to cold, concentration, or physical discomfort.

- He had to hunch his shoulders to fit through the tiny doorway.
- The programmer remained hunched over the keyboard for hours, oblivious to the growing tension in his neck and shoulders.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'up' or the preposition 'over'.

### 3. a physical hump

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a rounded lump or hump on a person's back.

For teachers: a physical protuberance or hump, typically referring to a curvature of the spine.

- The old man had a slight hunch in his back from years of hard work.
- The character was described as having a prominent hunch, a physical trait that the author used to symbolise his years of social isolation.

## Examples

- I have a hunch that it will rain today.
- The detective decided to follow a hunch and check the warehouse, even though there was no physical evidence pointing there yet.
- While the data was inconclusive, the lead researcher acted on a persistent hunch that the chemical reaction required a lower temperature than previously published studies suggested.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.