breakfast

noun

break·​fast ˈbrek-fəst 

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

Food and drink Complimentary breakfast consists of help-yourself coffee, fruit, and pastries laid out in the morning. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026

Consisting of a flour tortilla, sometimes giant, with egg, bacon, potato, ham and other delicacies, a breakfast taco’s mission is to give you an energy boost with the best flavor. —Imelda García, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026

Quince and manchego empanada at Tzintzuntzan One of the great joys of a vacation at a Mexican resort (besides all of it) is breakfast each morning. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026

Maybe that’s eating three regular meals or even just eating breakfast on a consistent basis, Tsui says. —Caroline Tien, SELF, 2 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing breakfast

• a dog's breakfast
• bed-and-breakfast
• breakfast bar
• continental breakfast
• cooked breakfast
• dog's breakfast
• English breakfast
• pre-breakfast
• working/business breakfast

Kids Definition

breakfast

noun

break·​fast ˈbrek-fəst 

: the first meal of the day

breakfast verb