bunker

1 of 2

noun

bun·​ker ˈbəŋ-kər How to pronounce bunker (audio)
Synonyms of bunkernext
1
: a bin or compartment for storage
especially : one on shipboard for the ship's fuel
2
a
: a protective embankment or dugout
especially : a fortified chamber mostly below ground often built of reinforced concrete and provided with embrasures
b
: a sand trap or embankment constituting a hazard on a golf course

bunker

2 of 2

verb

bunkered; bunkering ˈbəŋ-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce bunker (audio)

intransitive verb

: to fill a ship's bunker with coal or oil

transitive verb

1
: to place or store in a bunker
2
: to hit (a golf ball or shot) into a bunker

Examples of bunker in a Sentence

Noun The ammunition is stored in concrete bunkers. Verb She bunkered her tee shot. They bunkered just enough coal to get them to the port.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
And Amal was in a bunker in Beirut for two years doing the court cases. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 This one turns out to be more of a bunker, really, carved into a Norwegian cliff face. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Verb
Normally, teams bunker in deep after a player receives a red card, especially late in a game. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025 Step out from beachfront rooms straight onto sand, or bunker down in a super spacious suite spread over two floors, with a separate lounge, terrace for sunbathing, and private plunge pool. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bunker

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Scots bonker chest, box

First Known Use

Noun

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1886, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bunker was in 1839

Phrases Containing bunker

Rhymes for bunker

See All Rhymes for bunker

Browse Nearby Words

bunk car
bunker
Bunker
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bunker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bunker. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bunker

noun
bun·​ker
ˈbəŋ-kər
1
: a large bin (as for coal or oil on a ship)
2
: a shelter dug into the ground and made strong against attack
3
: sand trap

Biographical Definition

Bunker

biographical name

Bun·​ker ˈbəŋ-kər How to pronounce Bunker (audio)
Ellsworth 1894–1984 American diplomat

More from Merriam-Webster on bunker

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bunker

Nglish: Translation of bunker for Spanish Speakers

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