bunch
bunch — noun
1. several similar things held, growing, or lying close together as one set.
several similar things held, growing, or lying close together as one set.
Aiko carried a bunch of yellow flowers into the hospital room.
a bunch of + plural noun
Small black grapes hung in bunches over the garden fence.
in bunches for fruit
Ravi found a bunch of keys under the front seat.
On the table, three bananas lay in one bunch.
- a bunch of flowers
- a bunch of grapes
- a bunch of keys
- in bunches
- single item
one thing by itself, not part of a grouped set
Grammar Patterns
a bunch of + plural noun
in bunches
Usage Note
Common with flowers, grapes, bananas, and keys. The pattern is usually `a bunch of ...`, while `in bunches` is often used for fruit or flowers growing together.
Common Mistakes
2. an informal way to say that there are many people or things, or a lot of somethi
an informal way to say that there are many people or things, or a lot of something.
We spent a bunch of money fixing the kitchen roof.
a bunch of + uncountable noun
Bao has a bunch of homework before the math test.
A bunch of tourists arrived just before the museum closed.
a bunch of + people
There were a bunch of empty boxes behind the store.
- a bunch of money
- a bunch of homework
- a bunch of people
- a bunch of boxes
Grammar Patterns
a bunch of + plural noun
a bunch of + uncountable noun
Usage Note
Mostly heard in speech and informal writing. Distinguish this sense from noun/1: here the exact shape or closeness of the things does not matter; it simply means 'many' or 'a lot'.
Common Mistakes
3. a set of people spoken about or dealt with as one unit.
a set of people spoken about or dealt with as one unit.
A bunch of teenagers waited outside the cinema after school.
a bunch of + people
That noisy bunch keeps meeting by the river every Friday.
At lunch, a cheerful bunch from sales filled the corner table.
The guide waved for the whole bunch to follow him uphill.
the whole bunch
- a noisy bunch
- a cheerful bunch
- the whole bunch
- individual
one person considered separately
Grammar Patterns
a bunch of + people
the whole bunch
Usage Note
Often carries a casual tone and may sound slightly playful or dismissive, depending on context. Unlike noun/2, this sense refers only to people, not things or amounts.
Common Mistakes
4. the person or thing that is better than all the others in a set.
the person or thing that is better than all the others in a set.
At the tasting, Hana's soup was the best of the bunch.
the best of the bunch
The red bike looked the pick of the bunch in the shop.
the pick of the bunch
Of all the singers, Noa was easily the best of the bunch.
This cheap camera is the pick of the bunch for beginners.
- the best of the bunch
- the pick of the bunch
- best
more direct but less colorful
- leader
suggests being ahead, especially in a race or competition
- front-runner
often used before the final result is known
- worst
the least good in the group
Grammar Patterns
the best of the bunch
the pick of the bunch
Usage Note
Nearly always appears in fixed phrases such as `the best of the bunch` and `the pick of the bunch`. Distinguish this sense from noun/3: it singles out the top member, not the whole group.
Common Mistakes
5. a hairstyle where long hair is tied into two separate side sections beside the e
a hairstyle where long hair is tied into two separate side sections beside the ears.
For the play, Greta wore her hair in bunches with red ribbons.
wear hair in bunches
The little girl came to school with neat bunches tied by pink bands.
Esme tied the doll's hair into bunches before dinner.
tie hair into bunches
In the old photo, her hair hangs in two bunches.
- hair in bunches
- wear bunches
- tie hair into bunches
- pigtails
common American English equivalent
- double ponytails
clear descriptive phrase, especially in fashion talk
Grammar Patterns
wear hair in bunches
tie hair into bunches
Usage Note
Common in British English. American English often uses `pigtails` for a very similar hairstyle.
Common Mistakes
A person or thing that is slightly better than others in a group where none are very good.
The old car was the best of a bad bunch at the auction.
In that weak team, Mia was the best of a bad lot.
The best person or thing in a group.
Among all the apples, this one is the pick of the bunch.
Sara was chosen as the best of the bunch for the award.
To become angry, upset, or overly worried about something.
Don't get your panties in a bunch over a small mistake.
He got his panties in a bunch when they changed the schedule.
bunch — verb
1. to come close together in a tight group, or to pull things close together in tha
to come close together in a tight group, or to pull things close together in that way.
People bunched near the door when the rain started.
intransitive: bunch near + place
The coach bunched the players around the whiteboard.
transitive: bunch + object + around
Traffic bunched behind the bridge after the truck stopped.
Mira bunched the blankets at the foot of the bed.
bunch at the end of + noun
- bunch near the door
- bunch around the table
- bunch at the foot of the bed
- spread out
move or place things farther apart
- separate
divide into distinct parts
Grammar Patterns
people bunch near + place
bunch + object + around + noun
bunch at the end of + noun
Usage Note
Can be intransitive for people or vehicles moving together, and transitive when someone gathers people or loose things into one place. Often appears with place phrases such as `near the door`, `around the table`, or `at the end`.
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
`Bunch` often suggests several similar things close together, such as grapes, flowers, or keys. `Bundle` usually implies that the things have been tied, wrapped, or packed together, as with clothes or newspapers. `Cluster` is common when things naturally grow or appear close to each other, like stars, houses, or grapes. `Group` is the most general word and does not strongly suggest shape or physical contact. Compare: `Aiko bought a bunch of flowers` sounds natural, while `Aiko carried a bundle of old shirts` fits packed items better. `Small houses clustered near the station` shows natural closeness, not a tied set.
Common collocations
Etymology
In Middle English, `bunch` first referred to a lump or swelling. From that picture of things pushing together, the word later came to mean flowers, fruit, hair, or people gathered close as one group. Its earlier origin is uncertain.