Grunt
/ɡrʌnt/
nounverbB1
Definition
A grunt is a low, rough sound people or animals make, usually when they are working hard, feeling pain, or showing a simple reaction without words. It can also mean to say something in a short, unclear way. As a verb, "to grunt" means to produce this sound.
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See It in Action
A short, low sound made to show effort, pain, or simple communication
- •The soldier gave a grunt when he lifted the heavy box.
- •The pig made a loud grunt in the mud.
- •He answered with a grunt instead of words.
To make a low, rough sound expressing effort or emotion
- •She grunted as she pushed the door open.
- •The athlete grunted during the last part of the race.
- •He grunted in pain after hitting his leg.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "grunt" like "say," but instead of clear words, it is a short, rough sound showing feeling or effort.
- ✓Picture a person lifting something heavy and making a deep sound from their throat.
- ✓It's the feeling when you try hard or are tired and just make a short sound instead of talking.
- ✓Sounds like "grunt" → imagine a strong, short noise coming from deep in the throat, like "grrr" plus "unt."
- ✓In cartoons, strong characters often grunt when they work or get hurt, showing effort or pain without words.
- ✓NOT like "talk" (clear words), "grunt" is a sound with little meaning but strong feeling.
- ✓NOT like "shout" (loud and clear), "grunt" is low and short.
- ✓NOT like "whisper" (soft and quiet), "grunt" is rough and from the throat.
Try Other Words
- •Groan: a longer, more sad or painful sound (Use when the sound shows pain or sadness more than effort)
- •Growl: a low, angry animal sound (Use when the sound is angry or threatening)
- •Mumble: to speak quietly and not clearly (Use when the sound is unclear words, not just a noise)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix, simple root word)
- •Etymology: From Middle English, related to low, rough sounds made by animals or people
- •Historical development: Used for animal sounds and human noises expressing effort or pain since old English times
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe sounds in stories, everyday speech, and animal noises
- •Key insight: A simple, natural sound that expresses effort, pain, or a quick reaction without words
Reflect & Connect
•What situations make you or others grunt instead of speaking words?
•How does using a grunt change the way we understand someone's feelings or effort compared to clear speech?
Fill in the blanks
1.When lifting a heavy box, he ___ to show how hard he was working.
2.The pig made a loud ___ as it rolled in the mud.
3.Instead of answering, she just gave a short ___, showing she was tired.
4.A ___ is different from a shout because it is ___ and from deep in the throat.
5.Athletes often ___ during exercise to express effort or pain.
6.A ___ is not clear speech but a simple sound that can show ___ or emotion.
7.When someone ___, we can guess they are feeling ___ or working hard.