cater

verb

ca·​ter ˈkā-tər How to pronounce cater (audio)
catered; catering; caters
Synonyms of caternext

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 noun

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
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The company is also developing low-sugar and zero-sugar variants to cater to consumers who are conscious of their sugar intake. Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 May 2026 The vast acres of open space, along with poolside games and hammocks next to the fireplace, all cater the space as a great resort for traveling families. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026 How can sports rights holders and advertisers evolve their strategies to cater to younger audiences? Jennifer Maas, Variety, 6 May 2026 Johnson’s idiosyncratic approach to style has always catered to fashion as a fun form of expression. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cater

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cater was in 1580

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Cite this Entry

“Cater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cater. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

cater

verb
ca·​ter ˈkāt-ər How to pronounce cater (audio)
1
: to provide a supply of food
cater for parties
2
: to supply what is wanted or needed
caterer noun

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