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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Grunt Definition: Sound & Slang Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：make a low sound (grunt)

grunt 🔊

/ɡrʌnt/

To make a short, low sound from your throat, often because you are annoyed, in pain, or not interested in talking.

Grunt sound illustrated by athlete lifting heavy weight with strained expression.

make a low sound 🔊

➕

/meɪk ə loʊ saʊnd/

To produce a short, guttural sound, often involuntarily, expressing physical strain, pain, annoyance, or disinterest.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'grunnettan', imitating the sound made by animals, especially pigs.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a PIG making a 'GRUNT' sound, or a SOLDIER doing hard work without complaint.

📖 Example

When his mom asked him to clean his room, the teenager just grunted and didn't look up from his phone. 🔊 When his mom asked him to clean his room, the teenager just grunted and didn't look up from his phone.

🔗 Collocations

grunt in pain – to make a low sound because of physical suffering

grunt with effort – to make a short sound while exerting physical force

🔄 Synonyms

groan (v.) – to make a deep, long sound expressing pain, grief, or disapproval

moan (v.) – to make a long, low sound of pain, sorrow, or pleasure

🚫 Antonyms

laugh out loud (v.) – to produce a loud, cheerful sound expressing amusement

🌱 Derivatives

grunting (n./adj.) – the act or sound of making a grunt; producing such sounds

📖 Cultural Story

Originally an onomatopoeic word for animal sounds, especially pigs. Its use for human workers (infantrymen) dates to US military slang in the early 20th century, emphasizing low-status, hard labor.

Meaning 2：ordinary worker (grunt)

grunt 🔊

/ɡrʌnt/

A slang term for an ordinary worker who does the basic, hard work in an organization, with little power.

Grunt worker scene showing diligent office employee managing essential tasks.

ordinary worker 🔊

➕

/ˈɔːrdəneri ˈwɜːrkər/

A slang term referring to a low-ranking employee who performs essential, often tedious or physically demanding, foundational tasks within an organization.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The CEO's grand vision was only possible because of the hard work of the grunts in the IT department who fixed all the technical issues. 🔊 The CEO's grand vision was only possible because of the hard work of the grunts in the IT department who fixed all the technical issues.

🔗 Collocations

corporate grunt – a low-level employee in a large company doing routine work

grunt work – tedious, repetitive, and physically demanding tasks

🔄 Synonyms

foot soldier (n.) – a person who does the basic or routine work for an organization or cause

workhorse (n.) – a person who performs large amounts of hard work reliably

🚫 Antonyms

boss (n.) – a person who is in charge of other workers

executive (n.) – a senior manager in a business organization

🌱 Derivatives

gruntwork (n.) – tedious, repetitive tasks that form the necessary foundation of a project