scrunches; scrunched; scrunching
1
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to make your body lower or shorter by bending your legs, making your back bend forward, lowering your head, etc.
I scrunched down in the chair.
I spent the night scrunched (up) in the back of the car.
2
: to tighten the muscles of (your face or nose)
—usually + up
She scrunched up her face/nose.
3
a
: to put (several or many people or things) in a space that is too small
—usually used as (be) scrunched
The restaurant's tables are all scrunched together.
b
: to press or squeeze (something) so that it is no longer flat or smooth
I scrunched the fabric in my hand.
—often + upHe scrunched [=crumpled] up the paper and threw it away.
4
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to make the loud sound of something being crushed
The snow was scrunching [=(more commonly) crunching] under our feet.
Cite this Entry
“Scrunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/scrunch. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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