ingestion

noun

in·​ges·​tion in-ˈjes-chən 

-ˈjesh-

: the act or process of taking in something for or as if for digestion : the act or process of ingesting something

A Cochrane review showed that ingestion of cranberry products may decrease the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women …

—Giovanni Montini et al.

Celiac disease is the immune-mediated response to ingestion of gluten from wheat, rye and barley that damages the small intestine.

—Valerie Putnam

After two years of almost manic ingestion of book after book—Montaigne, Milton, Seneca, Dante—he began to write Moby-Dick.

—Andrew Delbanco

Examples of ingestion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Methanol poisoning can usually be treated successfully if it’s diagnosed within 10 to 30 hours after ingestion and the patient is admitted to the hospital. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026

Bioavailability is the extent to which a contaminant is absorbed by organisms following exposure through inhalation, dermal contact, or ingestion. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

If lily pollen or another substance is on a cat’s coat, Wahlen recommends wiping it away or washing the area with diluted dish soap to prevent ingestion during grooming. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

In January, Rogness was charged with felony drug possession and ingestion, but was out on bond and awaiting trial at the time of Wendel’s death. — Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ingestion

• congestion
• digestion
• suggestion
• gestion
• question
• indigestion

Medical Definition

ingestion

noun

in·​ges·​tion in-ˈjes(h)-chən 

: the taking of material (as food) into the digestive system