devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r 

dē-

devoured; devouring; devours

transitive verb

1

: to eat up greedily or ravenously

devoured the turkey and mashed potatoes

2

: to use up or destroy as if by eating

We are devouring the world's resources.

3

: to prey upon

devoured by guilt

4

: to enjoy avidly

devours books

devourer noun

Synonyms

• consume
• eat (up)

Examples of devour in a Sentence

He devoured everything on his plate.

The lions devoured their prey.

She devoured every golf magazine she could find.

He watched intently, devouring the scene before him with his eyes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Later, India had another line drive that was devoured by Kauffman Stadium’s dimensions. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025

The old economy still holds sway in a few places — legacy media companies that didn’t get devoured by the internet, film studios that remain flush with cash. —Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Sometimes Carrington would have players over to their old house on Oakford Avenue in the Arlington neighborhood to shoot on the backyard court or to devour a bushel of crabs. —Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025

Decide to Forgive By Robert Muller Decide to forgive For resentment is negative Resentment is poisonous Resentment diminishes and devours the self. —Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French devour-, stem of devorer, from Latin devorare, from de- + vorare to devour — more at voracious

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for devour

• bower
• cower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• hour
• our
• power
• scour
• shower

Kids Definition

devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(ə)r 

1

: to eat up greedily or hungrily

devoured everything on his plate

2

: to use up or destroy as if by eating

fire devoured the barn

3

: to enjoy eagerly

devour a book