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to snack on

to snack on

10 2.5
To eat small amounts of food between meals
  • phrasal verb
  • /snæk ɑn/
translation icon : picotear
  • I'm going to snack on these brownie brittle.
  • snack on fruit
  • food to snack on
  • snacking on sweets

So I may snack on popcorn.

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Examples

  • Yes, anyone with any sense at all loves to snack on that crispy, salty, delicious chippy Ness.

  • Keep a bowl of almonds around so you can snack on some while you relax.

    Blog text (32)
  • I guess I'll buy a snack on the way home for once!

  • What is one thing you must snack on at the theater?

    Blog text (15)
  • So I may snack on popcorn.

  • So Halloween is over, and if you are like me, you are snacking on your kids' candy each and every night.

    Blog text (6)
  • How about you and I snack on some Cheez-Its and try a little Beaujolais Nouveau?

  • My daughter is pointing out dogs and ducks, kicking her legs and snacking on some Cheerios.

    Blog text (29)
  • On Friday nights after the paper was put to bed, the staff would sometimes gather in Frederica's office to snack on Sri Lankan staples like fried vadai and coconut sambol.

    Academic text (2011)
  • During the movie, I like to snack on popcorn and candy.

Synonyms

to nibble
vsto snack on
56 2.0

To eat small, gentle bites slowly or a little at a time

describes eating small amounts without focusing on tiny repeated bites
to grab a bite
vsto snack on
  • Informal
30 2.9

Eat a quick meal when you are busy or in a hurry

refers instead to brief eating of small amounts between meals
to snack
vsto snack on
27 1.0

To eat a small amount of food between meals

focuses on eating a particular food in those small amounts
to have a bite
vsto snack on
17 1.8

Eat a small amount of food as a quick snack

emphasizes eating small amounts between meals rather than a light meal
to munch on
vsto snack on
  • Informal
14 2.9

To eat something while chewing loudly and enjoying it

describes small eating without implying loud or continuous chewing
to pick at
vsto snack on
5 4.6

Eat very small amounts of food when not feeling hungry

means small eating between meals but without the lack of interest
to graze
vsto snack on
5 3.8

Eat small amounts of food during the day instead of a full meal

refers to single small eating moments rather than continuous daytime eating
to nosh
vsto snack on
  • Informal
4 8.2

To eat a small snack between meals

is the same action but often names a particular food choice
to peck at
vsto snack on
1 4.7

To eat only a little food and not show interest

is used for small eating moments regardless of enthusiasm level
to nom
vsto snack on
  • Slang
9.9

To eat something quickly and enjoy it

expresses the same eating but in a more neutral, plain way

Antonyms

1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

18 5.0

To choose not to take something, often for health or religious reasons

How Much

to gorge
12 5.9
to eat
1.0
to snack on
10 2.5
to nibble
56 2.0

Surface Forms

snack on infinitive
snacked on past
snacked on past participle
snacking on present participle
snacks on third person singular

Morphology

snack + on

The meaning 'to eat small amounts of a particular food' is directly derivable from 'snack' (to consume a small amount between meals) combined with the preposition 'on' which marks the target item (e.g. snack on fruits). This is a regular verb + preposition composition common across languages and patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

The phrasal verb snack on comes from the picture of picking at small foods during the day. Snack is a small piece of food and on shows you are eating it, so it means 'to eat small amounts of a particular food, often between regular meals'.