crunch
Americanverb (used with object)
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to crush with the teeth; chew with a crushing noise.
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to crush or grind noisily.
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to tighten or squeeze financially.
The administration's policy seems to crunch the economy in order to combat inflation.
verb (used without object)
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to chew with a crushing sound.
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to produce, or proceed with, a crushing noise.
noun
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an act or sound of crunching.
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a shortage or reduction of something needed or wanted.
the energy crunch.
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distress or depressed conditions due to such a shortage or reduction.
a budget crunch.
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a critical or dangerous situation.
When the crunch comes, just do your best.
idioms
verb
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to bite or chew (crisp foods) with a crushing or crackling sound
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to make or cause to make a crisp or brittle sound
the snow crunched beneath his feet
noun
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the sound or act of crunching
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short for abdominal crunch
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informal the critical moment or situation
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of crunch
Explanation
When you crunch something, you grind it into tiny pieces, often with your teeth. You can also crunch whole spices into smaller bits with a mortar and pestle. A horse might crunch an apple, and on a summer day you might drink a glass of iced tea and crunch the ice between your teeth. You could also describe the sound of gravel underneath the wheels of a car or feet walking in fresh snow as a crunch. A figurative crunch is a deadline or crisis: "When it came to the crunch, I just voted for the person who would do the least harm."
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.
Macron's choice for central bank governor, Emmanuel Moulin, faced a crunch appearance Wednesday before the finance committees of parliament's two chambers, the National Assembly and the Senate.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
But consumers and businesses in countries such as Malaysia, India, and Ethiopia, where the energy crunch is most severe, are switching to solar in growing numbers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Serve topped with avocado, sour cream and more corn chips for crunch.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
But it comes as researchers also look to use AI systems and models that can crunch lots of data and surface patterns within it to aid conservation efforts around the world.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
Her hands clutched the half-made basket so tight, I could hear the sweetgrass crunch.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
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.
