champ

verb \ ˈchamp , ˈchämp , ˈchȯmp \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of champ

transitive verb

1 : chomp

2 : mash, trample

intransitive verb

1 : to make biting or gnashing movements

2 : to show impatience of delay or restraint —usually used in the phrase champing at the bit

he was champing at the bit to begin

See champ defined for English-language learners

See champ defined for kids

Examples of champ in a Sentence

He champed his pipe angrily.
The horse was champing its bit.
He champed on his pipe angrily.

Recent Examples of champ from the Web

Top seeds for this week’s girls tournaments include Lake Mary in District 1, Hagerty in District 2, Metro Conference champ Winter Park (18-3) for District 4 at home, Boone for District 5, and Lake Nona for District 6.

— buddy collings, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Spring sports playoffs are on: lacrosse, water polo, tennis this week," 15 Apr. 2018
All the actors who got spurned in the running for Young Han Solo are probably champing at the bit for the role, angling for a franchise to call their own.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Would Steven Spielberg Really Make a Female-Led Indiana Jones Movie?," 5 Apr. 2018
When things do get warm again, Lerner has advice for vegetable gardeners who may be champing at the bit to get back into the garden.

— justin l. mack, Indianapolis Star, "What April snow showers mean for your spring flowers," 2 Apr. 2018
The team's resurgent defense should make the NFC South champs a Super Bowl contender in 2018.

— usa today sports, USA TODAY, "Drew Brees re-signs with Saints for two years, $50M, per reports," 13 Mar. 2018
Every spring there comes a day or two during which hundreds of children line up, often at the edge of a field or along the side of a path, champing at the bit and revving up their proverbial engines.

— geoff bruce, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Egg hunts abound in Pewaukee, Dousman and Menomonee Falls on Easter weekend," 21 Mar. 2018
The team resides in the America East Conference, home to schools like the BinghamptonBearcats, Albany Great Danes, Stony Brook Seawolves and league darlings, the Vermont Catamounts, AEC champs six times since 2003.

— stephen schroats, star-telegram, "It's 'One Shining Moment' that will live in NCAA tournament history | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 17 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, Democrats are champing at the bit, prepared to declare Lamb's victory (or narrow defeat) -- in a district Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2016 -- a canary in the GOP's congressional coal mines.

— gregory krieg, CNN, "The Pennsylvania race is a toss-up. But the narrative is a lock.," 12 Mar. 2018
Coach Kelli Cofield’s co-Howard County champs must take care of the ball to keep the Baltimore City champion Engineers from using their swarming defense to create offense.

— katherine dunn, baltimoresun.com, "Previewing area teams in the MPSSAA girls basketball state semifinals," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'champ.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.