lunch

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈlənch 

1

: a usually light meal

especially : one taken in the middle of the day

2

: the food prepared for a lunch

see also:

eat someone's lunch out to lunch

lunch

2 of 3

verb

lunched; lunching; lunches

intransitive verb

: to eat lunch

transitive verb

: to treat to lunch

luncher noun

luncher

3 of 3

noun (2)

lunch·​er

ˈlənchə(r)

plural -s

: one that lunches

looking around at the bustling lunchers

—Dawn Powell

Examples of lunch in a Sentence

Noun (1)

I like to eat a healthy lunch every day.

We took a picnic lunch to the park.

They've brought their own lunches with them.

I had just a sandwich for lunch.

I bought her some lunch.

Verb

She often lunches in the park.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Southlake’s Ascension Coffee will feature a café atmosphere that is conducive for meetings or a leisurely lunch. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026

With half of Gen Z consumers already making beverage-only purchases weekly, afternoon drinks give operators another reason to reach customers outside breakfast, lunch and dinner. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Diane refuses, but April hesitantly makes the trip, only to learn that Theo — an artistic dilettante who lives in the city with his girlfriend, Lucy (Odessa A’zion) — has been lunching with Sandra behind her back. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Stock up on Rubbermaid containers to keep leftovers fresh and lunches spill-free, grab our forever-favorite cast-iron skillet from Lodge, or snag cookware for slow roasts, hearty sides, and all the cozy meals ahead. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably short for luncheon

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1811, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing lunch

• bag lunch
• box lunch
• do dinner/lunch
• eat/have someone or something for lunch
• eat someone's lunch
• eat someone's or something's lunch
• free lunch
• lose one's lunch
• lunch box
• lunch break
• lunch-bucket
• lunch counter
• lunch hour
• lunch meat
• out to lunch
• packed lunch
• ploughman's lunch
• pre-lunch
• there is no free lunch
• there is no such thing as a free lunch
• working/business lunch

Rhymes for lunch

• brunch
• bunch
• chinch
• crunch
• hunch
• punch
• keypunch

Kids Definition

lunch

1 of 2 noun

ˈlənch 

1

: a light meal

especially : one eaten in the middle of the day

2

: the food prepared for a lunch

lunch

2 of 2 verb

: to eat or treat to lunch

luncher noun