fatten

verb

fat·​ten ˈfa-tᵊn 

fattened; fattening fa-tə-niŋ 

ˈfat-niŋˈ

transitive verb

1

a

: to make fat, fleshy, or plump

especially : to feed (an animal) for slaughter

b

: to make more substantial

2

: to make fertile

intransitive verb

: to become fat

fattener

ˈfa-tə-nər 

ˈfat-nər

noun

Examples of fatten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the summer, the monsoon rains fatten the grass into a verdant shag, an annual revel for grazers. —Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Other mutations, random genetic changes that humans noticed and kept for planting the next year, helped along the way, notably those that multiplied the number of fruits on the stalk and fattened each seed. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

At that time, many households still had fattened bank accounts from pandemic-era stimulus payments and companies were hiring rapidly and sharply lifting pay to attract workers. —Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026

Try not to say something is bad for them, fattening, or unhealthy. —Sally Kuzemchak, Parents, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for fatten

• batten
• craton
• flatten
• gratin
• gratton
• latin
• lattin
• matin
• paten
• patten
• platen
• ratan

Kids Definition

fatten

verb

fat·​ten ˈfat-ᵊn 

fattened; fattening ˈfat-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become fat

fattener

-(ə-)nər 

noun