treat

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrēt 

treated; treating; treats

transitive verb

1

a

: to deal with in speech or writing : expound

b

: to present or represent artistically

c

: to deal with : handle

food is plentiful and treated with imagination

—Cecil Beaton

2

a

: to bear oneself toward : use

treat a horse cruelly

b

: to regard and deal with in a specified manner

—usually used with as

treat the matter as confidential

3

a

: to provide with free food, drink, or entertainment

they treated us to lunch

b

: to provide with enjoyment or gratification

4

: to care for or deal with medically or surgically

treat a disease

5

: to act upon with some agent especially to improve or alter

treat a metal with acid

intransitive verb

1

: to pay another's expenses (as for a meal or drink) especially as a compliment or as an expression of regard or friendship

2

: to discuss terms of accommodation or settlement : negotiate

3

: to deal with a matter especially in writing : discourse

—usually used with of

a book treating of conservation

treater noun

treat

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of providing another with free food, drink, or entertainment

dinner will be my treat

b

: an entertainment given without expense to those invited

2

: an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement

seeing her again was a treat

Synonyms

Verb

• act (toward)
• be (to)
• deal (with)
• handle
• serve
• use

Noun

• delectation
• delight
• feast
• gas [slang]
• joy
• kick
• manna
• pleasure

Examples of treat in a Sentence

Verb

The author treats this issue in the next chapter.

This situation must be treated with great care.

I try to treat everyone equally.

She treats the horse cruelly.

They treated me like a member of their family.

I was treated like a queen.

My parents still treat me like a child.

Try to treat everyone as an equal.

Young people should always treat their elders with respect.

Let's go out to dinner. I'll treat.

Noun

We took the kids to the water park as a special treat.

cookies and other tasty treats

She rewarded the dog with a treat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There are also ketamine infusion clinics that administer smaller doses of ketamine to treat depression. —Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024

Volunteers arranged for a grooming the same day and had the dog treated by a veterinarian within three days, in partnership with the Downriver Grooming Co. and Pound Pals Downriver. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024

Two people were treated at the scene, and two others were taken to a local hospital, police said. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Two people in other vehicles were taken to a hospital with minor injuries; another two injured people were treated at the scene. —David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024

The sick patient out of Texas reported eye redness as their only symptom and is recovering after isolating and being treated with an antiviral drug, according to the public health agency. —Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024

Two people with minor injuries were taken to the hospital, while two others were treated at the crash site. —Bill Chappell, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024

The remaining four guests were treated for minor injuries. —Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024

Doctors treated the Texas patient with an antiviral medication commonly used for the more familiar flu virus, and the person went into isolation. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024

Noun

The sweet treats start at 11 p.m. April 18 at the venue at 163 NW 25th St. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024

The Orange Dreamy Creamy Scooped takes the fun level up a notch; the frozen treat is soft serve made with golden Oreos and orange marshmallows. —Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

Recently, a friend turned me on to his favorite post-workout treat: a smoothie mixed with a spoonful of ground hemp seeds. —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024

Sweet Paws Creamery, a local dog treat business, is ready to celebrate now. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024

The 2024 total solar eclipse is less than a week away, and this product, based on the celestial event, is the perfect sweet treat to kick off any celebrations. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 Apr. 2024

The company will hand out free solar eclipse viewing glasses with every purchase of the new treat while supplies last. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024

Black licorice may look and taste like an innocent treat, but this candy has a dark side. —Bill Sullivan, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024

There will be magic, tricks and treats along with lots of laughter. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English treten, from Anglo-French treter, traiter, traitier, from Latin tractare to drag about, handle, deal with, frequentative of trahere to drag, pull

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing treat

• dutch treat
• heat-treat
• ill-treat
• treat (someone) like dirt
• trick or treat
• a treat
• pre-treat
• stand treat
• looks a treat
• worked a treat
• went down a treat

Kids Definition

treat

1 of 2 verb

ˈtrēt 

1

: to discuss terms of agreement with : negotiate

treat with the enemy

2

a

: to have as a subject especially in writing

a book treating of crime

b

: to deal with : handle

roses must be treated with care

3

a

: to pay for another's food or entertainment

I'm treating tonight

b

: to provide with free food, entertainment, or enjoyment

let me treat you with lunch

4

: to handle, use, or act toward in a usually stated way

treat a horse cruelly

treat this as top secret

5

: to give medical or surgical care to

treat a patient

treat a cold

6

: to subject to some action or process to bring about a desired result

treat a metal with acid

treat

2 of 2 noun

1

: an entertainment given without expense to those invited

2

: a usually unexpected or unusual source of pleasure or amusement

Medical Definition

treat

transitive verb

ˈtrēt 

: to care for or deal with medically or surgically : deal with by medical or surgical means

treated their diseases

treats a patient