crunch (the) numbers

idiom

: to process numbers : to examine and analyze numbers, especially to determine exactly how much money is available, needed, etc.
When we sat down to crunch the numbers we realized that we couldn't afford a new car.

Examples of crunch (the) numbers in a Sentence

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.
Rather than hiring teams of PhD-level analysts to crunch numbers and identify market patterns, firms are increasingly turning to AI systems that can process vast amounts of information in seconds and deliver insights in plain English. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025 Pawel Libera | The Image Bank | Getty Images Although the actual numbers will not be known until the U.K. tax authorities crunch the numbers some years hence, there have been plenty of straws in the wind. Ian King, CNBC, 2 July 2025 Instead of sifting through spreadsheets or waiting for a team to crunch the numbers, with AI, the leader can analyze historical sales data, competitor pricing and real-time market trends in minutes. Igor Fedulov, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 There is also a solid chance that the number of computing cycles needed to crunch the numbers and perform arithmetic operations on them will be faster. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for crunch (the) numbers

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crunch (the) numbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crunch%20%28the%29%20numbers. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!