cater

verb

ca·​ter ˈkā-tər 

catered; catering; caters

intransitive verb

1

: to provide a supply of food

cater for a large party

2

: to supply what is required or desired

catering to middle-class tastes

transitive verb

: to provide food and service for

catered the banquet

caterer

ˈkā-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of cater

• feed
• board
• sustain
• serve

Examples of cater in a Sentence

The restaurant caters for parties.

A local restaurant catered the banquet.

The awards ceremony will be a catered event.

Recent Examples on the Web

The experience also includes an in-world café (catered by The Knot Churros) serving Instagrammable sweet treats and Peppa Pig Market, an interactive gift shop inspired modelled on the supermarket in the show. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026

The 8 Degree Pedal comes with one set of medium-tension springs preinstalled, which are catered towards most riders. —New Atlas, 1 Apr. 2026

Throughout the war, the White House has catered its messaging to the stock market, which is desperately trying to hold on to its yearslong rally, even as consumer costs climb. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026

Another Orange County synagogue has asked us to cater two Seders, an interfaith Seder and a women’s Seder. —Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete cater buyer of provisions, from Middle English catour, short for acatour, from Anglo-French, from acater to buy — more at cate

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cater

• cater-cousin
• cater for
• cater to

Rhymes for cater

• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater
• rater

Kids Definition

cater

verb

ca·​ter ˈkāt-ər 

1

: to provide a supply of food

cater for parties

2

: to supply what is wanted or needed

caterer

-ər-ər 

noun