bottle-feed

verb

bot·​tle-feed ˈbä-tᵊl-ˌfēd How to pronounce bottle-feed (audio)
bottle-fed; bottle-feeding
Synonyms of bottle-feednext

transitive verb

: to feed with a bottle
bottle-feed an infant

Examples of bottle-feed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
How Animal Lovers Can Help For readers who have ever bottle-fed a baby animal, comforted a frightened pet or simply paused to watch a deer step out of the woods at dusk, Forest’s story is a familiar kind of heartbreak — and a familiar kind of hope. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026 Wildlife rehabbers know this, which is why bottle-feeding a fawn is generally treated as a last resort, done with gloves, silence and minimal eye contact whenever possible. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026 The zoo shared a photo of you bottle-feeding a sloth? Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 Because the baby cannot breastfeed, caretakers are bottle-feeding the elephant every two hours. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026 Available in a variety of fun prints and styles, Boppy’s cover is still machine washable and continues to accommodate breast and bottle-fed babes. Pamela Brill, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026 The other puppy, Showgirl, is a chow chow and rottweiler mix who was bottle-fed from two days old. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Jan. 2026 Louie now enjoys life in New York City surrounded by toys from friends and family, is bottle-fed every five hours. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025 There’s constant cleaning, shuffling and mewling as staff and volunteers at the Papago Park Campus make sure the kittens are bottle-fed every four hours, 24 hours a day. Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottle-feed was circa 1869

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bottle-feed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottle-feed. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

bottle-feed

verb
bot·​tle-feed
ˈbät-ᵊl-ˌfēd
bottle-fed; bottle-feeding
: to feed (as an infant) with a bottle

Medical Definition

bottle-feed

transitive verb
bot·​tle-feed ˈbät-ᵊl-ˌfēd How to pronounce bottle-feed (audio)
bottle-fed; bottle-feeding
: to feed (an infant) from a bottle rather than by breastfeeding

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