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Meaning & use

grunting

verb, noun, adjective·Everyday

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UK/ˈɡrʌntɪŋ/
US/ˈɡrʌntɪŋ/

“grunting” is a form of “grunt”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive or intransitive

    Making short, low, rough sounds, as pigs do or as a person does when lifting something heavy or showing annoyance.

    Grammar: Used without an object or with one: he was grunting; he was grunting a reply.

    Patterns

    • grunting with effort
    • grunting at someone

    The pigs were grunting happily in the mud.

    He kept grunting as he dragged the sofa up the stairs.

    The teenager was grunting replies to every question.

  2. noununcountable

    The sound of low, short, rough noises, or the act of making them.

    Grammar: Usually uncountable: the grunting grew louder.

    Patterns

    • the grunting of something

    The grunting of the boars could be heard from the barn.

    Players' loud grunting on the court has caused arguments.

  3. adjectivebefore a noun

    Making short, deep rough sounds.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: a grunting pig.

    Patterns

    • a grunting animal

    A grunting pig wandered into the yard.

    We heard a grunting voice from behind the door.

Word forms

basegrunt
third person singulargrunts
past tensegrunted
-ing formgrunting

Common combinations

grunting noise
A grunting noise came from the bushes.
grunting with effort
He was grunting with effort as he lifted the weights.
snorting and grunting
The pigs were snorting and grunting in the pen.
grunting in agreement
The men sat grunting in agreement.
grunting in annoyance
She left the room grunting in annoyance.

Synonyms and how they differ

snorting
Snorting means forcing air through the nose noisily, whereas grunting uses the throat.
groaning
Groaning is longer and often signals pain, while grunting is short and rough.
mumbling
Mumbling is speaking unclearly with real words, but grunting uses no clear words.
oinking
Oinking is an informal imitation of a pig's sound, while grunting is the standard word.

Word family

grunt verb
to make a short low sound
grunt noun
a short, low rough sound
grunted verb
past tense of grunt
grunter noun
something or someone that grunts

Commonly confused: grunting or groaning?

grunting vs groaning

Groaning is a longer, lower sound that often shows pain or sadness, whereas grunting is brief and rough.

Practice

The farmer heard the pigs ___ in the barn.

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