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• munch
  munch

  verb (used with object)

  to chew with steady or vigorous working of the jaws, often audibly.
• Munch
  Munch

  noun

  Edvard 1863–1944, Norwegian painter and graphic artist.
• Münch
  Münch

  noun

  Charles, 1891–1968, French conductor in the U.S.

munch

¹ American  

[muhnch] / mʌntʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to chew with steady or vigorous working of the jaws, often audibly.

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verb (used without object)

1. to chew steadily or vigorously, often audibly.

noun

1. Informal. a snack.

verb phrase

1. munch out to snack especially extensively or frequently.

Munch ² American  

[moongk] / mʊŋk /

noun

1. Edvard 1863–1944, Norwegian painter and graphic artist.

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Münch ³ American  

[mynsh] / münʃ /

noun

1. Charles, 1891–1968, French conductor in the U.S.

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Munch ¹ British  

/ mʊŋk /

noun

1. Edvard (ˈɛdvard). 1863–1944, Norwegian painter and engraver, whose works, often on the theme of death, include The Scream (1893); a major influence on the expressionists, esp on die Brücke

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munch ² British  

/ mʌntʃ /

verb

1. to chew (food) steadily, esp with a crunching noise

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Other Word Forms

• muncher
  noun
• unmunched
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of munch

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English monchen, variant of mocchen; of imitative origin

Explanation

To munch is to eat something in a loud and enthusiastic way. If you can't stand listening to your brother munch his toast in the morning, you might decide to take your breakfast to go. When you eat something steadily, especially if it's something crunchy, you munch. You might munch on carrot sticks for a snack and then munch a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. You can also take a munch, or a bite, out of something. Munch is an imitative word, its sound echoing the actual sound of munching, but it may also have a connection to the Old French mangier, "to bite or chew."

Example Sentences

On the walls, another nod to the idea of thinking: reproductions of works by Edvard Munch, the deeply intellectual painter.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

All the Lauder pieces sold, including the Klimt, an Edvard Munch painting and Henri Matisse bronzes, for $528 million combined.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025

It still needs a lot of development, according to Mr Munch Smidt-Jensen.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2025

I felt like I had stepped into an Edvard Munch painting.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2024

They arrived at the museum building, noted on which floor the Munch exhibit could be found, and ascended.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick