breastfeed

verb

breast·​feed ˈbrest-ˌfēd 

variants or breast-feed

breastfed or breast-fed; breastfeeding or breast-feeding; breastfeeds or breast-feeds

transitive verb

: to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast

intransitive verb

1

: to breastfeed a baby

… more women are breastfeeding than ever before …

—Lauren Sandler

2

of a baby : to feed oneself by sucking milk from a mother's breast

breastfed adjective

or breast-fed

breastfed babies

breastfeeder noun

or breast-feeder

breastfeeding noun

or breast-feeding

Synonyms

• nurse
• suckle
• wet-nurse

Examples of breastfeed in a Sentence

believes that all women should breast-feed their babies

Recent Examples on the Web

Although the supplements are generally well tolerated, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to ferns, or are taking other medications—particularly immune-modulating ones—may not be good candidates, Nazarian said. —Kristen Fischer, Health, 8 Apr. 2025

Fact checked by Sarah Scott As a mom of a 10-week-old baby, my life can best be described by a few words: breastfeeding, exhaustion, emotional rollercoaster, and frumpiness. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 2 Apr. 2025

Young children — plus women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding — should specifically choose fish lower in mercury, the FDA site also says. —Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Families will learn more about bike and helmet safety, child passenger safety, stranger danger, pediatric dental care, fire safety, the Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program, breastfeeding and water safety. —Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025

In its pages, Crumpler offered practical advice on breastfeeding, teething and preventing deadly diseases like cholera infantum. —Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

Families will learn more about bike and helmet safety, child passenger safety, stranger danger, pediatric dental care, fire safety, pet safety, medication safety, the Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program, safe sleeping, breastfeeding, water safety and more, the release said. —Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025

The class covers what to expect when initiating breastfeeding, skin-to-skin holding, positioning, deep latch techniques, pumps and pumping, and basic troubleshooting. — A Ready for Baby newborn care class takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. —Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025

Because the beauty of breastfeeding is just so good for the baby. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

breast-feed

verb

ˈbrest-ˌfēd

breast-fed

-ˌfed

; breast-feeding

: to feed a baby from a mother's breast

Medical Definition

breastfeed

verb

breast·​feed

variants or breast-feed

ˈbrest-ˌfēd

breastfed or breast-fed; breastfeeding or breast-feeding; breastfeeds or breast-feeds

transitive verb

: to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast

intransitive verb

1

: to breastfeed a baby

2

of a baby : to feed oneself by sucking milk from a mother's breast

breastfed adjective

or breast-fed

breastfed babies

breastfeeder noun

or breast-feeder

This class for first-time breastfeeders will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

—The Reno (Nevada) Gazette-Journal

On average, infants who were exclusive breast-feeders continued to drink more as they got older …

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

breastfeeding noun

or breast-feeding