breastfeed

verb

breast·​feed ˈbrest-ˌfēd 

variants or breast-feed

breastfed or breast-fed; breastfeeding or breast-feeding; breastfeeds or breast-feeds

transitive verb

: to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast

intransitive verb

1

: to breastfeed a baby

… more women are breastfeeding than ever before …

—Lauren Sandler

2

of a baby : to feed oneself by sucking milk from a mother's breast

breastfed adjective

or breast-fed

breastfed babies

breastfeeder noun

or breast-feeder

breastfeeding noun

or breast-feeding

Synonyms

• nurse
• suckle

Examples of breastfeed in a Sentence

believes that all women should breast-feed their babies

Recent Examples on the Web

She's done that in the past with her home remedy for mastitis, an often painful inflammation of the breast tissue that is common in breastfeeding. —Anna Halkidis, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025

The program, better known as WIC, provides access to healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding education and referrals for other services to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age 5. —Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025

In August 2025, Bliss reflected on breastfeeding her baby, sharing a video for World Breastfeeding Week. —Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

Important questions about breastfeeding also arose from these conversations. —Ann Kellams, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025

The risk is higher for older adults, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, children, and anyone taking other CNS-depressant medications or products. —Alex Yampolsky, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2025

Children and those who are breastfeeding or of child-bearing age may be at higher risk for potential adverse effects. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

breast-feed

verb

ˈbrest-ˌfēd

breast-fed

-ˌfed

; breast-feeding

: to feed a baby from a mother's breast

Medical Definition

breastfeed

verb

breast·​feed

variants or breast-feed

ˈbrest-ˌfēd

breastfed or breast-fed; breastfeeding or breast-feeding; breastfeeds or breast-feeds

transitive verb

: to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast

intransitive verb

1

: to breastfeed a baby

2

of a baby : to feed oneself by sucking milk from a mother's breast

breastfed adjective

or breast-fed

breastfed babies

breastfeeder noun

or breast-feeder

This class for first-time breastfeeders will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

—The Reno (Nevada) Gazette-Journal

On average, infants who were exclusive breast-feeders continued to drink more as they got older …

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

breastfeeding noun

or breast-feeding