# lunch

/ˈɫəntʃ/ (US) · /lˈʌntʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lunch
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. midday meal

noun · CEFR A1

the meal you eat in the middle of the day.

For teachers: a meal eaten in the middle of the day, typically between breakfast and dinner.

- We usually have a quick lunch at our desks so we can finish work early.
- The business lunch provided an informal setting for the two CEOs to discuss the potential merger without the pressure of a boardroom environment.

Usage: Used uncountably for the general activity and countably for specific events or types of meals.

### 2. cricket break

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a break in a game of cricket between the first and second parts of the day.

For teachers: the scheduled interval between the first and second sessions of a day's play.

- The players left the field for lunch with the score at ninety-two for three.
- By the time the umpires called for lunch, the opening batsmen had successfully navigated the most difficult period of the morning session.

Usage: Typically used as an uncountable noun in this sporting context.

### 4. to provide lunch for someone

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to take someone out and pay for their midday meal.

For teachers: to entertain someone by providing or paying for their lunch. Transitive use.

- The company lunched the visiting clients at an expensive steakhouse downtown.
- It was standard practice for the firm to lunch prospective recruits at the club to gauge their social graces before making a formal offer.

Usage: Takes a direct object, usually a person or a group.

## Examples

- I usually eat a sandwich for lunch at my desk.
- We are meeting at a local Italian restaurant for lunch to celebrate her promotion.
- While some cultures treat lunch as a brief pause for sustenance, others view it as the day's principal social event, often lasting several hours and involving multiple courses.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.