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

For this meal plan, cheese is featured in the omelet at breakfast, in the salad for lunch and paired with grapes for snack. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026

Along with caffeinated beverages, there are also homemade pastries, breakfast, and lunch—think avocado toast, chicken salad sandwiches, and Caesar salad. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026

This versatile dairy staple can bulk up a breakfast smoothie, anchor a marinade for lamb and other meats, form the base of classic dips like tzatziki, and transform ice pops into high-protein, healthy desserts—adding tang, tenderness, and creaminess along the way. —Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026

This is the kind of hotel where staff remember your name and stick around for years, welcoming repeat guests with their favorite drink or regular breakfast order. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 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