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

Teenagers are catered for with a special Den fitted out with pool tables, table football and a jukebox, plus a mocktail bar. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

The event, catered by Little Gem Oak Park, features a four-course dining experience and shared stories. — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

A number of customers have hired the taquería to cater family weddings and funerals. — Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Indulgences are also well catered for, from waffles to a confection of pastries at the buffet. — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 8 July 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