cater

1 of 2

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

caterer

2 of 2

noun

ca·​ter·​er ˈkā-tər-ər 

plural -s

: one that caters: such as

a

: one whose business is to arrange for and supervise all the details as to food and service for any social affair (as at a club or private house)

b

: a worker in a hotel or restaurant who solicits, promotes, and arranges for social functions to be held there

Synonyms of cater

Verb

• feed
• board
• sustain
• serve

Examples of cater in a Sentence

Verb

The restaurant caters for parties.

A local restaurant catered the banquet.

The awards ceremony will be a catered event.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The husband and wife still cater and now have four locations around Chicago, including a stand at Soldier Field. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

William Gottlieb’s suit also notes that Urban Zen hosts catered gatherings that generate food garbage, therefore creating fodder for the rats. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 25 Aug. 2026

On June 27, the caller was holding a baby shower that was catered when a suspect stole a Louis Vuitton purse, which was valued at approximately $2,500, from the caller’s bedroom. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

Spaces evolve to better cater for the community and become more important to everyday life. — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

probably from cater entry 2 + -er

First Known Use

Verb

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