breakfast

noun

break·​fast ˈbrek-fəst How to pronounce breakfast (audio)
1
: the first meal of the day especially when taken in the morning
2
: the food prepared for a breakfast
eat your breakfast
breakfast verb
breakfaster noun

Examples of breakfast in a Sentence

I had pancakes for breakfast. Did you have breakfast before you left?
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.
Fuel up in the morning with a traditional Scottish breakfast, then sip whiskey on the chesterfield sofas next to the fire after a day romping around Edinburgh. Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 22 Oct. 2025 The leader of the $1 billion-a-year in revenue breakfast and lunch chain takes time each month to handwrite congratulations to cooks and dishwashers celebrating major milestones, like 10, 20, or even 30 years with the company. Preston Fore, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025 If your race is in the morning, eat a high-carbohydrate breakfast, such as a bagel or oatmeal. Laurel Leicht, Health, 21 Oct. 2025 Each of us was allotted a small piece of bread for breakfast and a modest portion of rice or pasta for lunch. Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for breakfast

Word History

Etymology

Middle English brekfast, from the phrase breken fast "to break one's fast, end abstinence from food"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breakfast was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breakfast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakfast. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

breakfast

noun
break·​fast ˈbrek-fəst How to pronounce breakfast (audio)
: the first meal of the day
breakfast verb

More from Merriam-Webster on breakfast

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