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

Another small town in Yolo County, Woodland, is a great place to sit down to a delicious breakfast. —Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Club Level suite guests get access to additional perks like complimentary daily breakfast and a happy hour. —Ronny Maye, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2025

Multiple studies show that eating a healthy breakfast is associated with greater nutrient intake throughout the day and a better-quality diet.1 Additionally, eating breakfast every day is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.2 Wondering what foods are healthiest for the heart? —Laura Schober, Health, 12 Aug. 2025

The National School Lunch Act of 1946 laid the foundation that public schools are places where children can receive a free breakfast and lunch each day. —Becky Pringle, Time, 11 Aug. 2025

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