champ

1 of 2

verb

champed; champing; champs

intransitive verb

1
: to make biting or gnashing movements
2
: to show impatience of delay or restraint
usually used in the phrase champing at the bit
he was champing at the bit to begin

champ

2 of 2

noun

Examples of champ in a Sentence

Verb He champed his pipe angrily. The horse was champing its bit. He champed on his pipe angrily. Noun this year's national basketball champs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Others would champ at the bit to join him. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 24 Mar. 2021 Will any lessons from these countries be learned in the West, where countries are several weeks behind in their outbreaks, but many governments are already champing at the bit to relax lockdowns, despite sky-high infection rates? James Griffiths, CNN, 11 May 2020
Noun
As for Covington, the ex-interim UFC champ is on the first losing skid of his career after dropping a title tilt to Leon Edwards in December 2023. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024 Those numbers are generally far below the two-time league scoring champ's career averages of 27.8 points on .503/.338/.827 shooting splits, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for champ 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chammen, champen

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of champ was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near champ

Cite this Entry

“Champ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/champ. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

champ

1 of 2 verb
1
: to bite or chew noisily
a horse champing its bit
2
: to show impatience
usually used in the phrase champing at the bit

champ

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on champ

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