munch

¹ American  

[muhnch] / mʌntʃ /

verb (used with object)

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

---

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.

---

Münch ³ American  

[mynsh] / münʃ /

noun

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

---

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

---

munch ² British  

/ mʌntʃ /

verb

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

---

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

Some visitors at Ueno Zoological Gardens were left teary-eyed as they watched Japan's only two pandas Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao munch on bamboo.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

Ringo follows with, “Meanwhile, high in the Swiss Alps, two elderly Scotchmen munch on a rare cheese.”

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025

The diggers, up to 62-feet high, are miniature factories that can munch their way through the toughest of rocks while laying pipes, cables and cladding as they go.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

Whether we will see UK councils start shipping in millions of flies, so their larvae can munch through the 6.4 million tonnes of household food waste produced here yearly, is only a matter of time.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

No animal wants to get close, much less munch on the reeking, exotic, wine-colored blossom.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan