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Definition of grunt verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grunt

verb
 
/ɡrʌnt/
 
/ɡrʌnt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they grunt
 
/ɡrʌnt/
 
/ɡrʌnt/
he / she / it grunts
 
/ɡrʌnts/
 
/ɡrʌnts/
past simple grunted
 
/ˈɡrʌntɪd/
 
/ˈɡrʌntɪd/
past participle grunted
 
/ˈɡrʌntɪd/
 
/ˈɡrʌntɪd/
-ing form grunting
 
/ˈɡrʌntɪŋ/
 
/ˈɡrʌntɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] (of animals, especially pigs) to make a short, low sound in the throatTopics Animalsc2
  2. [intransitive, transitive] (of people) to make a short, low sound in your throat, especially to show that you are in pain, annoyed or not interested; to say something using this sound
    • He pulled harder on the rope, grunting with the effort.
    • When I told her what had happened she just grunted and turned back to her book.
    • grunt something He grunted something about being late and rushed out.
    • + speech ‘Thanks,’ he grunted.
    Extra Examples
    • Grunting and groaning, they heaved the wardrobe up the stairs.
    • He grunted in pain.
    • He merely grunted at her and nodded his head.
    • His father grunted at him as he left the room.
    • She asked him a question and he grunted in reply.
    • She stirred the soup, grunting with satisfaction.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • loudly
    • softly
    • angrily
    preposition
    • at
    • in
    • with
    phrases
    • grunt and groan
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginOld English grunnettan, of Germanic origin and related to German grunzen; probably originally imitative.
See grunt in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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