bunch

1 of 2

noun

ˈbənch 

1

: protuberance, swelling

2

a

: a number of things of the same kind

a bunch of grapes

b

: group sense 2a

a bunch of friends

c

: a considerable amount : lot

a bunch of money

bunchily

ˈbən-chə-lē 

adverb

bunchy

ˈbən-chē 

adjective

bunch

2 of 2

verb

bunched; bunching; bunches

intransitive verb

1

: swell, protrude

2

: to form a group or cluster

—often used with up

transitive verb

: to form into a bunch

Synonyms

Noun

• body
• circle
• clan
• clique
• community
• coterie
• coven
• crowd
• fold
• galère
• gang
• klatch
• klatsch
• lot
• network
• pack
• ring
• set

Verb

• bag
• balloon
• beetle
• belly
• billow
• bulge
• jut
• overhang
• poke
• pooch [chiefly dialect]
• pouch
• pout
• project
• protrude
• stand out
• start
• stick out
• swell

Examples of bunch in a Sentence

Noun

He always had a bunch of keys on his belt.

Dried herbs hung in bunches from the kitchen rafters.

Verb

The child's tights bunched at the ankles.

the dress bunches a bit at the waist

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s not an obvious dud — the M:I equivalent of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull — in the bunch. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 May 2025

Carell’s performance is the broadest of the bunch, but his character is also the most desperate. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 May 2025

Verb

The image was snapped at a slight angle, concealing the fact that numerous rings are bunched together at the center, and the inter-ring spacing grows larger on the periphery. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025

This ended up being the final time the pack was bunched together in Christopher Bell’s victory. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bunche

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing bunch

• thanks a bunch/lot/million
• the pick of the bunch

Rhymes for bunch

• brunch
• chinch
• crunch
• hunch
• lunch
• punch
• keypunch

Kids Definition

bunch

1 of 2 noun

ˈbənch 

1

: a number of things of the same kind

a bunch of grapes

2

: group entry 1 sense 1, collection

a bunch of friends

3

: a large amount : lot

a bunch of money

bunchy

ˈbən-chē 

adjective

bunch

2 of 2 verb

: to gather in a bunch