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

The left breast hangs lower than the right, and her brown nipples, enlarged to the size of wine stoppers from breastfeeding long ago, also point down. —Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Pleats Please has seen her through into her breastfeeding journey. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2025

Ultimately, the study's findings support the view that breastfeeding during early infancy may help protect against CPP in both sexes. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

My, expectations versus my reality of birthing a child and then breastfeeding said, child, were not aligned. —Outside Online, 13 Aug. 2025

Those who are exposed to nuclear radiation are generally urged to stop breastfeeding in the immediate aftermath of an atomic blast. —Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025

Uncertainty about the impact of these drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding may account for some of this disparity. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Aug. 2025

The accessible changing restroom with hoist, from Momentum Refresh, now also includes a breastfeeding and sensory-friendly space. —Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 1 Aug. 2025

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a healthcare provider before using turmeric on the skin or in supplements, as there is not enough evidence to prove its safety in these groups. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 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