munch

verb

ˈmənch 

munched; munching; munches

transitive verb

: to eat with a chewing action

many a mouthful is munched in private

—Washington Irving

also : to snack on

drank coffee and munched homemade cookies

—Lady Bird Johnson

intransitive verb

: to eat or chew something

also : snack

—usually used with on

muncher noun

Examples of munch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, a bear and her cub removed the screen of an open window to get into a California home — and then munched on a box of doughnuts. —CBS News, 19 Sep. 2023

These cellar spiders hide quietly in a corner, munching on little flies and other small insects that wander by. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023

While drinking milkshakes and munching on fries, the young men reflected on quitting the football team and walking away from its notorious coach, Rush Propst. —Kyle Whitmire | [e-mail], al, 29 Aug. 2023

With new perspective and a fresh sense of anger, Reggie sets out to take revenge on Doug and his confidants come with him on a humorous Homeric odyssey, tussling with a hungry eagle, running afoul of animal control and munching some seriously funky mushrooms. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2023

On both sides of the fence, parents sprawl on the grass, munching watermelon slices. —Gabby Sobelman, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2023

The term is fairly new on TikTok (and viral, too, with more than 2 billion views of videos featuring people munching away, watching YouTube videos on repeat, or simply scrolling through Instagram from the comfort of their beds). —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Aug. 2023

The beagle, who is 4, loves sunbathing and belly rubs, munching on crushed ice and, most of all, lounging in her bed. —Johnny Diaz, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2023

Howard Hughes hoarded his urine; Michael Jackson spent millions to bring giraffes, alligators, a bear, elephants, and apes to live at his ranch and private zoo; and Steve Jobs munched on nothing but carrots and apples for weeks, despite his skin turning orange. —Frederick Kaufman, Fortune, 30 July 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English monchen, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

munch

verb

ˈmənch 

: to eat with a chewing action

also : to snack on

munched popcorn and watched a movie

muncher noun

Biographical Definition

Munch 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈmu̇nch  ˈmᵫnch 

Charles 1891–1968 Alsatian-born conductor

Munch

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

ˈmu̇ŋk 

Edvard 1863–1944 Norwegian painter