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Definitions

lunch

[luhnch] / lʌntʃ /
NOUN
midday meal
Synonyms
STRONG
luncheon
WEAK
high tea snack tea

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for lunch?
The word lunch originally comes from a shortening of luncheon, which was once used to mean the same thing but now more specifically refers to a formal lunch held in connection with a meeting or other special occasion. Lunch is the midday meal, commonly eaten around noon (though later in some places). The time at which you eat lunch is called lunchtime. A late lunch is one eaten later than usual. Lunch isn’t always defined by the time it’s eaten, though. In some places, a midday meal is called dinner when it’s the main meal of the day. A light lunch is one that’s not too heavy or filling. A hot lunch is one that consists of hot foods, as opposed to cold food, like cold sandwiches. A packaged lunch provided at an event is often called a box lunch (or a boxed lunch). A lunch that you pack for yourself is often called a brown-bag lunch. The term bag lunch (or bagged lunch) can refer to one that’s provided or one that you packed yourself. The period allotted to eat lunch during a workday is called a lunch break or the lunch hour. In school, this is often called the lunch period. A business meeting conducted over lunch can be called a business lunch, a lunch meeting, or a power lunch. According to popular wisdom, there is no such thing as a free lunch. To do lunch means to meet someone for lunch. This is often called a lunch date. Brunch is a meal that’s like a combination of breakfast and lunch, typically eaten between breakfast time and lunchtime. A midmorning break for a snack—eaten after breakfast but before lunch—can be called elevenses (in reference to being eaten around 11 a.m.). In the U.K., the term high tea refers to a late afternoon or early evening meal similar to a light supper. Lunch can also be a verb, though this is quite formal and is much less commonly used. To lunch means to eat lunch, or to eat something specific for lunch, as in We lunched on sandwiches. More specifically, it can mean to engage in lunch as an activity, as in First we’ll visit the museum, then we’ll lunch, then we’ll see a show.

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.

“And I don’t know if I looked a little harried or rushed, but the first thing she said to me was, ‘Did you have lunch?’

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered several baguettes for lunch in front of the cameras in the village of Saint-Julien-Chapteuil in central France.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

If pupils miss an assessment, they have to make it up, often in their lunch breaks or after school.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

But he also expressed concern about Draper’s mental decline after meeting him for lunch earlier this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

“We’ve talked about this at lunch, Grace. Multiple times. Jade has orchestra camp in New Jersey next week, then she’s visiting her dad in California. She doesn’t get back till August.”

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison