chunk
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
-
to cut, break, or form into chunks.
Chunk that wedge of cheese and put the pieces on a plate.
-
to remove a chunk or chunks from (often followed byout ).
Storms have chunked out the road.
verb (used without object)
idioms
verb (used with object)
-
to toss or throw; chuck.
chunking pebbles at the barn door.
-
to make or rekindle (a fire) by adding wood, coal, etc., or by stoking (sometimes followed byup ).
noun
-
a thick solid piece, as of meat, wood, etc
-
a considerable amount
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of chunk1
First recorded in 1685–95; nasalized variant of chuck 2
Origin of chunk2
An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; perhaps nasalized variant of chuck 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
There were some legitimate failures here: The federal government had guaranteed $535 million in loans to the company, leaving taxpayers on the hook for a significant chunk of change.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
A big chunk of the money fueling that industry is coming from life insurers such as the ones Walter owns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Poster boy Duncan Scott started the rush, defending his 200m individual medley gold from Birmingham four years ago by slicing a chunk off his own Games record.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
There’s a sizable chunk who don’t know how much they owe in student loans or credit-card debt, or the percentage they are paying in interest payments.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
I pulled a chunk of pork out of the icebox.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Instead, it might be an attempt to turn the fish into smaller bite-sized chunks, researcher Kathryn Ayres said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
I also like to stuff my dates with cold chunks of butter, as they amplify the creaminess of the dates and deliciously melt in your mouth with each bite.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
The president in his financial disclosures released last month reported receiving $263 million from the sale of the World Liberty Financial stake, one of the largest chunks of his 2025 income.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
On their way in, crews had to clear debris from multiple floors; aside from chunks of concrete, masonry and flooring, obstacles included a bathroom sink and toilet that had tumbled down from above.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
I had helped them gather the knotted chunks of slag metal from the desert floor.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
