noun
grunt
gruhnt
noun
1
A short, low, snorting sound, often expressing effort, annoyance, or reluctance.
"He gave a grunt of acknowledgment without looking up."
2
An ordinary soldier or low-ranking worker who does the hard, unglamorous tasks.
"The grunts on the ground rarely get the credit officers do."
verb
1
To make a short, low, snorting sound.
"The weightlifter grunted as he heaved the bar overhead."
How to Use Grunt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short grunting sound, or slang for a low-ranking soldier or worker doing the grunt work.
When to use it
The "low-ranking worker/soldier" sense is informal/slang.
Common pairings
grunt work
give a grunt
Word Forms
grunted past tense, grunts plural, grunts singular
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Etymology
From Old English grunnettan, meaning to grunt, ultimately imitative of the sound itself.