champ

verb \ ˈchamp , ˈchämp , ˈchȯmp \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: champ in a Sentence

Definition of champ

champed; champing; champs

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

Also awaiting the verdict with bated breath is Comcast (cmcsa, +0.22%), which is champing at the bit to make an offer to buy 21st Century Fox (fox, +0.74%), edging out Disney’s $52 billion proposed buy-out.

— hallie detrick, Fortune, "The AT&T-Time Warner Merger Ruling Is Expected Tuesday. Here's What's at Stake," 11 June 2018
If Miliband was vigorously champing at the bit to fit all his insight into a swift hour, then Pullman was a slow burner.

— thomas barrie, A-LIST, "Notes from the Hay Festival," 5 June 2018
All that has changed — but President Trump and his right-wing buddies are champing at the bit to go back to a world where politicians meddled in a woman’s personal health decisions.

— sen. elizabeth warren, Time, "Sen. Warren: Trump’s New Proposal Is Another Attempt by the Government to Control Women’s Bodies," 30 May 2018
In 2017, for example, the Atlanta Falcons, who had only been to the Super Bowl once before, in 1998, went up against four-time Super Bowl champs the New England Patriots.

— larry dobrow, Woman's Day, "12 Fascinating Things You Didn't Know About the Super Bowl," 8 Jan. 2018
Democrats, however, are champing at the bit to make this a campaign issue.

— maureen groppe, Indianapolis Star, "Todd Rokita is battling 'the elites,' including fellow Republicans who used to support him," 26 Apr. 2018
In this projection, Gettleman, fresh from the selection of running back Saquon Barkley second overall, is champing at the bit to get back into the first round for a quarterback or offensive lineman and would be a willing trade partner.

— jourdan rodrigue, charlotteobserver, "One last 7-round Carolina Panthers mock draft, with Dave Gettleman in starring role | Charlotte Observer," 25 Apr. 2018
More: Boone County champs again: Fastest population growth in Cincinnati metro area, Census says More: Is your city's population keeping pace?

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Report: Cincinnati isn't the fastest growing city in Ohio," 10 Apr. 2018
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

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.

Origin and Etymology of champ

Middle English chammen, champen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

champ Synonyms

Synonyms

bite (on), chaw, chew, chomp (on), crunch (on), gnaw (on), masticate, nibble;

Related Words

ruminate;

munch, nosh, snack;

consume, eat, ingest, swallow;

bolt, devour, gobble (up or down), gorge, gulp, scarf, scoff, snack, wolf;

nip, peck (at), pick (at);

gum, mumble;

Phrases

sink one's teeth into;

champ

noun \ ˈchamp \

Definition of champ

: champion

See champ defined for English-language learners

Examples of champ in a Sentence

this year's national basketball champs

Recent Examples of champ from the Web

In girls doubles, junior Elizabeth Schwalbach and freshman Rachel Hoffmann lost to the eventual champs from Harrison County in the semis, 4-6, 6-1, 10-3.

— james weber, Cincinnati.com, "Campbell County wins 10th Region tennis," 8 May 2018
With the win, the Checkers evened the series at 1-1 and wrested home-ice advantage away from the Phantoms, the AHL Atlantic Division regular season champs.

— charlotteobserver, "With one huge game, the Charlotte Checkers seize control of their playoff destiny | Charlotte Observer," 5 May 2018
Two other Lakers teams fell to eventual champs — the Spurs in 2003 and the Mavericks in 2011 — but in second-round series that weren’t close, either.

— mike finger, San Antonio Express-News, "History says Warriors could be due for letdown," 2 Apr. 2018
Hamilton freshman Patrick Baldwin, whose Chargers reached the Division 1 state semifinal and came within a final shot of toppling eventual champ Oshkosh North, was named honorable mention in Division 1.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Herro, Diener, Basile, Cartier, Gentry named unanimous All-State selections," 19 Mar. 2018
Trevon Bluiett added 26 points, and Kerem Kanter had 24 for the Big East's regular season champs.

— teresa m. walker, Houston Chronicle, "Texas Southern falls to Xavier in NCAA Tournament," 16 Mar. 2018
Led the Cougars to the Class 3A Twin Lakes Regional title game against eventual state champ Northwestern.

— john o'malley, Post-Tribune, "Announcing the 2017-18 Post-Tribune Girls Basketball All-Area Team," 15 Mar. 2018
However, the Aggies wound up winning just five of their 14 road games and lost their last three regular-season contests away from the Pavilion, including a 79-49 blowout loss to regular-season champ UC Irvine in the finale.

— michael mcgough, sacbee, "As UC Davis falls short of March Madness, here's a look back at the Aggies' 2017 run | The Sacramento Bee," 13 Mar. 2018
The regular-season champs, Princeton’s men and Penn’s women, won the tournament and took their NCAA bids.

— mike jensen, Philly.com, "The Palestra hosting Ivy League tournament: Is that fair? | Mike Jensen," 9 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of champ

1868

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

champ Synonyms

CHAMP Defined for English Language Learners

champ

verb

Definition of champ for English Language Learners

: to bite and chew on (something) in a noisy way

CHAMP Defined for Kids

champ

verb \ ˈchamp \

Definition of champ for Students

champed; champing

: to bite and chew noisily

a horse champing its bit

— champing at the bit

: waiting in an impatient way

We were champing at the bit to begin.

champ

noun

Definition of champ for Students

1 : ¹champion 2

2 : ¹champion 3

Learn More about champ

See words that rhyme with champ Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for champ Spanish Central: Translation of champ Nglish: Translation of champ for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of champ for Arabic speakers

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champ

Definition of champ

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Origin and Etymology of champ

champ Synonyms

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champ

Definition of champ

Examples of champ in a Sentence

Recent Examples of champ from the Web

First Known Use of champ

champ Synonyms

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CHAMP Defined for English Language Learners

champ

Definition of champ for English Language Learners

CHAMP Defined for Kids

champ

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champ

Definition of champ for Students

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