cater

verb

ca·​ter ˈkā-tər 

catered; catering; caters

intransitive verb

1

: to provide a supply of food

cater for a large party

2

: to supply what is required or desired

catering to middle-class tastes

transitive verb

: to provide food and service for

catered the banquet

caterer

ˈkā-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of cater

• feed
• board
• sustain
• serve

Examples of cater in a Sentence

The restaurant caters for parties.

A local restaurant catered the banquet.

The awards ceremony will be a catered event.

Recent Examples on the Web

The restaurant also will offer catering. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026

These organizations don't charge the supplement and even provide additional resources and support that cater just to solo travelers. —Amelia Edelman, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026

The schedule begins with a two-hour block of short films at noon, followed by panel discussion with the shorts filmmakers that shifts into a free lunch catered by Red Rock Tavern. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026

At one board meeting, Davis catered a nine-course lunch and had his secretary place Pepto-Bismol bottles at each seat. —Gabriel Sherman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

obsolete cater buyer of provisions, from Middle English catour, short for acatour, from Anglo-French, from acater to buy — more at cate

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing cater

• cater-cousin
• cater for
• cater to

Rhymes for cater

• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater
• rater

Kids Definition

cater

verb

ca·​ter ˈkāt-ər 

1

: to provide a supply of food

cater for parties

2

: to supply what is wanted or needed

caterer

-ər-ər 

noun