Jump to:

• 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.

---

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

The monkeys with the most frequent soil consumption munch on tourist junk food that is "high in sugar, high in salt, high in dairy, which the macaques can't digest," said Lemoine.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

According to Barton, when deer munch on native plants, the plants are replaced by invasive grasses that dry out quickly and burn easily.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 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

I breathe evenly, pretending sleep as Jay and Nessa munch on peanuts, pretzels.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes