chuck

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈchək How to pronounce chuck (audio)
chucked; chucking; chucks
Synonyms of chucknext

transitive verb

1
a
: toss, throw
b
: discard
chucked his old shirt
chuck it out with the trash
c
: dismiss, oust
—used especially with out
was chucked out of office
2
: give up
chucked his job
3
: pat, tap

chuck

2 of 5

noun (1)

1
: an abrupt movement or toss
2
: a pat or nudge under the chin

chuck

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
: a cut of beef that includes most of the neck, the parts about the shoulder blade, and those about the first three ribs see beef illustration
2
chiefly Western US : food
3
: an attachment for holding a workpiece or tool in a machine (such as a drill or lathe)

chuck

4 of 5

verb (2)

chucked; chucking; chucks
: cluck

chuck

5 of 5

noun (3)

—used as an endearment

Synonyms of chuck

Relevance

Verb (1)

Noun (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of chuck in a Sentence

Verb (1) after the power outage we reluctantly chucked everything that had been sitting in the fridge I swear, I have half a mind to chuck this job and become a hermit! chucked a wad of paper at his friend's back Noun (2) after a long day, the cowboys lined up for some chuck
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
Meanwhile, the three Romanians ditched the van, chucked their clothing into a garbage bin, and ordered a taxi to Heathrow Airport. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Reserve quarterback Kyle Trask chucked up a deep pass to him just before the blitz arrived. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
Secondly, the ingredient list is chock-full of comfort, from the chuck roast to the mirepoix for an aromatic and savory dish. — Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026 Beef short ribs come from the chuck (shoulder), plate rib (lower belly) or brisket (chest/breast) section of a cow. — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chuck

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

English dialect chuck lump

Verb (2)

Middle English chukken, of imitative origin

Noun (3)

perhaps from chuck chicken

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (1)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chuck was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing chuck

Rhymes for chuck

See All Rhymes for chuck

Browse Nearby Words

chucho
chuck
chuck-a-luck
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chuck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chuck. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chuck

1 of 3 verb
ˈchək How to pronounce chuck (audio)
1
: to give a pat or a tap to
chucked the child under the chin
2
: toss sense 2
let's chuck the ball around

chuck

2 of 3 noun
1
: a pat or nudge under the chin
2
: an easy throw : toss

chuck

3 of 3 noun
1
: a portion of a side of dressed beef including most of the neck and the parts around the shoulder blade and the first three ribs
2
: a device for holding work or a tool in a machine
Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

English dialect chuck "lump"

More from Merriam-Webster on chuck

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chuck

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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