eat

1 of 2

verb

ˈēt 

ate ˈāt 

 dialectal or British  ˈet

; eaten ˈē-tᵊn  ; eating; eats

transitive verb

1

: to take in through the mouth as food : ingest, chew, and swallow in turn

2

a

: to destroy, consume, or waste by or as if by eating

Marketing expenses were eating into the profits.

gadgets that eat up too much space

tides eating away the shoreline

b

: to bear the expense of : take a loss on

The team was forced to eat the rest of his contract.

3

a

: to consume gradually : corrode

cars eaten away by rust

b

: to consume with vexation : bother

What's eating you now?

4

: to enjoy eagerly or avidly : lap

—used with up

It was an amazing performance and the crowd ate it up.

5

usually vulgar : to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on

—often used with out

intransitive verb

1

: to take food or a meal see also eat up

2

: to affect something by gradual destruction or consumption

—usually used with into, away, or at

The loss was really eating at her.

The controversy ate into his support.

eater noun

plural eaters

eat

2 of 2

noun

: something to eat : food

—usually used in plural

Phrases

eat alive

: to defeat, conquer, or overwhelm completely : crush

was eaten alive by the competition

eat one out of house and home

: to consume more than one can easily provide or afford

eat one's heart out

1

: to grieve bitterly

2

: to be jealous

eat one's words

: to retract what one has said

eat out of one's hand

: to accept the domination of another

eat someone's lunch

: to deprive of profit, dominance, or success

Synonyms

Verb

• consume
• ingest
• partake (of)
• put away
• put down
• tuck (away or in)

Noun

• bread
• chow
• chuck [chiefly West]
• comestibles
• eatables
• edibles
• fare
• food
• foodstuffs
• grub
• meat
• provender
• provisions
• table
• tucker [chiefly Australian]
• viands
• victuals
• vittles

Examples of eat in a Sentence

Verb

You'll feel better if you eat something.

I ate a big breakfast so I'm not very hungry.

They like to eat at home.

Noun

there are some good eats at the buffet table

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Eating it: Some folks spoon directly into their mouths. —Ann Maloney, NOLA.com, 19 July 2017

New this year to True Nature is a retreat for those with eating disorders and their family members. —Plain Dealer Guest Writer, cleveland.com, 19 July 2017

Noun

Read the full list of the Milwaukee area's top 25 restaurants here, and get a look at 10 great casual restaurants for everyday eats here. —Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024

An hour of free ping pong for anyone who voted (proof required) plus drinks and eats. —Anna Spiegel, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English eten, from Old English etan; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat, Latin edere, Greek edmenai

Noun

Middle English et, from Old English ǣt; akin to Old High German āz food; derivative from the root of eat entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing eat

• dog-eat-dog
• eat a horse
• eat crow
• eat dust
• eat/have someone or something for lunch
• eat humble pie
• eat light
• eat out of someone's hand
• eat right
• eat someone's or something's lunch
• eat up
• eat up/run out/kill the clock
• have one's cake and eat it
• have one's cake and eat it too
• I'll eat my hat

Kids Definition

eat

verb

ˈēt

ate

ˈāt

; eaten

ˈēt-ᵊn

; eating

1

: to take into the mouth and swallow food : chew and swallow in turn

2

: to have a meal

eat at home

3

: to destroy as if by eating : wear away

rocks eaten away by waves

4

: to affect something by destroying or using up bit by bit

acid eating into metal

5

: to enjoy with excitement

the audience ate the show up

eater noun

Medical Definition

eat

verb

ˈēt 

ate

ˈāt, chiefly British ˈet

; eaten ˈēt-ᵊn  ; eating

transitive verb

1

: to take in through the mouth as food : ingest, chew, and swallow in turn

2

: to consume gradually : corrode

intransitive verb

: to take food or a meal