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to hulk

to hulk

11 7.4
To appear very large and loom over other things
  • verb
  • /hʌlk/
translation icon : imponerse sobre
  • The hulking shadow of the building loomed over the street, making it feel small.
  • hulking man
  • hulking physique
  • hulking monster

Examples

  • Burke and Sheldon look up and notice the hulking, grinning figure of Spinner Dunn standing over them.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Eddie's flashlight takes him and Plissken deeper and deeper into the hulking remains of the ship.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • A few yards away, the pickup hulked like a dark creature.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • I walked east toward the hulking gray walls that dead-end that part of the city.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • In the murky light, one hulking figure sits at the bar, drinking shot after shot of whiskey.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Raquel and Dennis move past a hulking doorman, making their way down a narrow stairway.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • As they entered the gym, they were greeted by the hulking figure of the weightlifter at the front desk.

  • A hulking monster appeared in the movie, terrifying everyone with its immense size and strength.

Synonyms

to loom
vsto hulk
152 5.1

To appear as a large unclear shape that seems threatening

is solidly heavy and imposing rather than vague or merely threatening
to tower
vsto hulk
72 4.6

To be much taller than nearby things and look more important

is bulky and heavy giving an imposing presence not just height
to predominate
vsto hulk
1 7.0

To stand out and draw attention in a place

is heavy and physically imposing rather than only visually commanding

Idioms

6.3

A person who has very large muscles and a strong body

Compounds

A very large man who is strong

How Imposing

to tower
72 4.6
to hulk
11 7.4
to loom
152 5.1

Surface Forms

hulk infinitive
hulked past
hulked past participle
hulking present participle
hulks third person singular

Etymology

Hulk as a verb comes from the idea of something very large and heavy, so to hulk is to 'appear large and threatening' or to loom over a place. That's why a mountain or old factory can hulk above a town.