Meaning & use
chucks
Last updated
“chucks” is a form of “chuck”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralinformalAmerican
Informal name for canvas sneakers, especially the high-top athletic shoes sold under the Converse brand.
Grammar: Plural noun: his chucks are worn out.
Patterns
- a pair of chucks
He wore black chucks with his jeans.
I need to buy a new pair of chucks.
Her red chucks went with everything.
verbtransitiveinformal
Third person singular of chuck: throws something casually or carelessly.
Grammar: Takes an object: he chucks the ball.
Patterns
- chucks something away
He chucks his bag on the sofa every night.
She chucks old magazines in the recycling bin.
The boy chucks stones into the river.
nounpluraltechnical
Plural of chuck: cuts of beef from the shoulder area, or clamps that hold a tool in a drill.
Grammar: Plural noun: the chucks were tightened.
The butcher had two chucks left.
The machinist replaced the worn chucks on the lathe.
We ordered chucks for the slow cooker stew.
Common combinations
- pair of chucks
- I wear a pair of chucks to the gym.
- high-top chucks
- He loves his high-top chucks.
- chucks away
- She chucks away old receipts.
- lace up chucks
- He sat down to lace up his chucks.
- chuck steaks
- The chuck steaks are on sale.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: chucks or chunks?
chucks vs chunks
Chunks are thick pieces of something, whereas chucks are shoes, throws or cuts of beef.
Practice
My ___ are so old that the white rubber on the toes has worn away.
Choose one answer.
Chucks means canvas sneakers, which have rubber toes that wear away. Chunks is a similar-sounding word with a different meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chucks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.