scrunch

verb \ ˈskrənch , ˈskru̇nch \

Updated on: 27 Mar 2018

Definition of scrunch

transitive verb

1 : crunch, crush

2 a : to draw or squeeze together tightly

b : crumple —often used with up

c : to cause (something, such as one's features) to draw together —usually used with up

intransitive verb

1 : to move with or make a crunching sound

2 : crouch, hunch; also : squeeze

See scrunch defined for English-language learners

See scrunch defined for kids

Examples of scrunch in a Sentence

I scrunched down in the chair.
I scrunched the fabric in my hand.

Recent Examples of scrunch from the Web

Allen Barron scrunches up his tiny face and wails as his mother gently tips him backward onto the lap of Jean Calvo, a pediatric dental resident at the University of California-San Francisco.

— laurie udesky, Kaiser Health News, "Open Your Mouth And Say Goo-Goo: Dentists Treating Ever-Younger Patients," 21 Sep. 2017
To shape her fine, naturally curly hair without weighing it down, Allure's beauty editor, Lexi Novak, scrunches Carol's Daughter Marula Curl Therapy Diffusing & Styling Lotion, $20 (Shop Now) into her wet hair.

— elizabeth siegel, Allure, "16 Ways to Air-Dry Your Hair (No Matter Your Hair Type)," 7 Oct. 2017
Allen Barron scrunches up his tiny face and wails as his mother gently tips him backward onto the lap of Jean Calvo, a pediatric dental resident at the University of California-San Francisco.

— laurie udesky, Kaiser Health News, "Open Your Mouth And Say Goo-Goo: Dentists Treating Ever-Younger Patients," 21 Sep. 2017
Allen Barron scrunches up his tiny face and wails as his mother gently tips him backward onto the lap of Jean Calvo, a pediatric dental resident at the University of California, San Francisco.

— laurie udesky, sacbee, "Open your mouth and say goo-goo: Dentists treating ever-younger patients," 23 Oct. 2017
Kurt Vile is scrunched into a sofa in the Best Western Hollywood Hills' lobby.

— rebecca haithcoat, GQ, "How Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile Became Best Buds," 17 Oct. 2017
Allen Barron scrunches up his tiny face and wails as his mother gently tips him backward onto the lap of Jean Calvo, a pediatric dental resident at the University of California-San Francisco.

— laurie udesky, Kaiser Health News, "Open Your Mouth And Say Goo-Goo: Dentists Treating Ever-Younger Patients," 21 Sep. 2017
Allen Barron scrunches up his tiny face and wails as his mother gently tips him backward onto the lap of Jean Calvo, a pediatric dental resident at the University of California-San Francisco.

— laurie udesky, CNN, "Dental checkups urged for babies -- but many dentists are wary," 20 Sep. 2017
Then scrunch and separate individual curls to loosen the crunch.

— jessica cruel, SELF, "5 Ways You Should Be Using Dry Shampoo (But You're Not)," 30 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of scrunch

alteration of ¹crunch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1790

See Words from the same year

scrunch Synonyms

scrunch

noun

Definition of scrunch

: a crunching sound

Recent Examples of scrunch from the Web

Long before Demna Gvesalia sent scrunches down the Balenciaga runway, the 85-year-old has been championing the divisive hair accessory.

— refinery29.com, "Photographic Proof Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Always Loved Scrunchies," 21 Mar. 2018
On Wednesday, outside of her gym, Kim was spotted squatting on the sidewalk in a pair of her signature ankle-scrunch sweats, a tank, and some Yeezy sneakers, concentrating very hard on this exact dilemma.

— rachel torgerson, Cosmopolitan, "This Pic of Kim K Wearing Sweats and Deciding on a Green Juice Wins the Internet Today," 26 Oct. 2017
To revive curls in a pinch, spray a mixture of half water and half leave-in conditioner on the ends of your hair, and scrunch or style as usual.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "18 Life-Changing Hacks for Curly Hair," 30 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of scrunch

1857

SCRUNCH Defined for English Language Learners

scrunch

verb

Definition of scrunch for English Language Learners

: to make your body lower or shorter by bending your legs, making your back bend forward, lowering your head, etc.
: to tighten the muscles of (your face or nose)
: to put (several or many people or things) in a space that is too small