Verbs for Changes in Body Posture

to get up

Verb

/ɡɛt ˈʌp/

Select Your Language

to get on our feet and stand up

to bow

Verb

/baʊ/ or /baoo/

b

b

o

a

w

ʊ

Select Your Language

to bend the head or move the upper half of the body forward to show respect or as a way of greeting

to squat

Verb

/skwɑt/ or /skvaat/

s

s

q

k

u

w

a

ɑ

t

t

Select Your Language

to go to a position in which the knees are bent and the back of thighs are touching or very close to one's heels

to scooch

Verb

/sku:ʧ/ or /skooch/

s

s

c

k

oo

u:

ch

ʧ

Select Your Language

to crouch or squat down slightly

to hunker

Verb

/hən.kɜr/ or /hēn.kēr/

h

h

u

ə

n

n

k

k

e

ɜ

r

r

Select Your Language

to squat down low, or sit on one's haunches in a relaxed or stable position

to crouch

Verb

/kraʊʧ/ or /kraooch/

c

k

r

r

o

a

u

ʊ

ch

ʧ

Select Your Language

to sit on one's calves and move the chest close to one's knees

to kneel

Verb

/nil/ or /nil/

k

n

n

ee

i

l

l

Select Your Language

to support the weight of the body on a knee or both knees

to stoop

Verb

/stup/ or /stoop/

s

s

t

t

oo

u

p

p

Select Your Language

to bend the upper side of one's body forward

to duck

Verb

/dʌk/ or /dak/

d

d

u

ʌ

ck

k

Select Your Language

to lower the head or body quickly as a gesture of avoidance or to avoid being hit

to lean

Verb

/lin/ or /lin/

l

l

ea

i

n

n

Select Your Language

to bend from a straight position typically to rest the body against something for support

to hunch

Verb

/hənʧ/ or /hēnch/

h

h

u

ə

n

n

ch

ʧ

Select Your Language

to bend the upper side of the body forward and make a rounded back

to slump

Verb

/sləmp/ or /slēmp/

s

s

l

l

u

ə

m

m

p

p

Select Your Language

to sit, lean or fall heavily or suddenly, typically due to exhaustion, weakness, or lack of energy.

to sit

Verb

/sɪt/ or /sit/

s

s

i

ɪ

t

t

Select Your Language

to put our bottom on something like a chair or the ground while keeping our back straight

to flop

Verb

/flɑp/ or /flaap/

f

f

l

l

o

ɑ

p

p

Select Your Language

to fall or collapse suddenly and heavily, either intentionally or unintentionally

to flump

Verb

/flʌmp/ or /flamp/

f

f

l

l

u

ʌ

m

m

p

p

Select Your Language

to fall or sit down heavily, often with a soft or muffled sound

to straddle

Verb

/stræ.dəl/ or /strā.dēl/

s

s

t

t

r

r

a

æ

dd

d

ə

l

l

e

Select Your Language

to sit with one leg on either side of an object

to bestride

Verb

/best.raɪd/ or /best.raid/

b

b

e

ɪ

s

s

t

t

r

r

i

aɪ

d

d

e

Select Your Language

to sit or stand with one leg on either side of

to curl up

Verb

/kˈɜːl ˈʌp/

Select Your Language

to position one's body like a ball with one's arms and legs placed close to one's body while sitting

to double up

Verb

/dˈʌbəl ˈʌp/

Select Your Language

to bend over typically as a reaction to laughter or pain

to lie

Verb

/laɪ/ or /lai/

l

l

ie

aɪ

Select Your Language

(of a person or animal) to be in a resting position on a flat surface, not standing or sitting

to recline

Verb

/rɪk.laɪn/ or /rik.lain/

r

r

e

ɪ

c

k

l

l

i

aɪ

n

n

e

Select Your Language

to bend the upper body backwards

to sprawl

Verb

/sprɔl/ or /sprawl/

s

s

p

p

r

r

a

ɔ

w

l

l

Select Your Language

to spread out one's limbs in a relaxed manner while sitting, falling, etc.