champ
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to bite upon or grind, especially impatiently.
The horses champed the oats.
-
to crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch.
-
to mash; crush.
verb (used without object)
noun
idioms
noun
verb
-
to munch (food) noisily like a horse
-
to bite (something) nervously or impatiently; gnaw
-
informal to be impatient to start work, a journey, etc
noun
-
the act or noise of champing
-
dialect a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks
noun
Other Word Forms
- champer noun
- champy adjective
Etymology
Origin of champ1
1520–30; perhaps akin to chap 1; chop 1
Origin of champ2
By shortening
Explanation
A champ is someone who wins a contest or a prize. The winner of an elementary school fifty-yard dash is a champ. Champ is shorthand for champion — in other words, a winner or a victor. You might describe your favorite football team as a bunch of champs after they win the World Series. Another way to use the word champ is as a verb meaning "chomp," especially the way a horse bites nervously or eagerly at its bit. The original meaning of champ is "chew noisily," and the biting horse definition came next, in the 1600's.
Vocabulary lists containing champ
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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.
Watch out, Arnold Schwarzenegger — there’s a new champ in the family.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The former heavyweight champ has lent his face to an ad campaign with the slogan "Eat Real Food," as opposed to ultra-processed products that are popular in America.
From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026
"Go on, champ," Mick encouraged as she began her eighth lap.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026
Ohio State will have a bye week before its Halloween meeting with USC at the Coliseum, and so will the defending champ, Indiana, which USC will face in Bloomington on Nov. 14.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026
“Whatever else they say about me, champ, I do keep my promises.”
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
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.
