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

However, the option can be beneficial for some breastfeeding mothers. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024

This beautiful cultural practice not only supported mothers facing early breastfeeding challenges but also passed on vital antibodies through breastmilk, giving babies immunity before their own systems could fully develop. —Victor A. Lopez-Carmen, Md, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

Related article Moms with HIV can breastfeed if taking treatment and virus is undetectable, pediatricians’ group says Before 2013, the United States did not permit HIV-positive organ donations. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024

One segment has stakes; the other has Moe, as Maggie, demanding that Marge breastfeed him. —Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

In one photo, Duff showed herself breastfeeding Townes. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024

There’s also a photograph by Nadia Lee Cohen, even larger than the Hulin, that hangs in the entryway — a young woman in full-glam hair and makeup sitting at a kitchen table and smoking a cigarette while breastfeeding an infant. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

Though rare, there is an elevated risk for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding to experience biotin deficiency. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024

The duo have long been open about their parenthood journeys, from annual birthday wishes on Instagram and posting about their first Easter as a family of six this year, to Ciara even documenting Wilson giving her a hand with breastfeeding. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

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