devour

verb de·vour \ di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r , dē- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: devour in a Sentence

Definition of devour

transitive verb

1 : to eat up greedily or ravenously

devoured the turkey and mashed potatoes

2 : to use up or destroy as if by eating

We are devouring the world's resources.

3 : to prey upon

devoured by guilt

4 : to enjoy avidly

devours books

—

devourer

noun

See devour defined for English-language learners

See devour defined for kids

Examples of devour in a Sentence

He devoured everything on his plate.
The lions devoured their prey.
She devoured every golf magazine she could find.
He watched intently, devouring the scene before him with his eyes.

Recent Examples of devour from the Web

Here, though, visitors can devour a delicious mishmash of foods and fusions from all over Mexico and the world.

— david farley, New York Times, "Grazing an Entire Country at a Mexico City Market," 9 June 2018
Models in the 2009 video devour the picture plane in suggestive licks and kisses.

— charles desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, "Marilyn Minter considers glamour, power at Ratio 3," 7 June 2018
The Pigtown woman devours books — African-American authors, Danielle Steel and other bestsellers.

— yvonne wenger, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore's Pratt Library goes fine free for overdue books," 4 June 2018
Chrysler and Dodge have shrunk so much that keeping them running is easy and inexpensive by the auto industry’s cash-devouring standards.

— chris woodyard, USA TODAY, "Dodge, Fiat and Chrysler are saved -- but for how long?," 2 June 2018
Chrysler and Dodge have shrunk so much that keeping them running is easy and inexpensive by the auto industry’s cash-devouring standards.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Chrysler and Dodge’s days may be numbered despite surviving Friday," 1 June 2018
Asian and silver carp, which can grow up to 50 pounds, devour this important resource leaving little for larval fish and native mussels.

— kale williams, OregonLive.com, "Meet the 11 invasive species wreaking havoc on Oregon's environment," 30 May 2018
As Kirillov, his suggestible victim, paced the stage, preparing to commit suicide as the ultimate proof of his free will, Verkhovensky slowly and deliberately devoured a chicken, diligently sucking on every wing and bone.

— The Economist, "A great Russian director brings history to life on stage," 17 May 2018
People who couldn’t get through Heti’s last novel devoured this one.

— molly fischer, The Cut, "Should Sheila Heti Have a Baby?," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'devour.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of devour

Middle English, from Anglo-French devour-, stem of devorer, from Latin devorare, from de- + vorare to devour — more at voracious

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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devour Synonyms

Phrases

run out of;

DEVOUR Defined for Kids

devour

verb de·vour \ di-ˈvau̇r \

Definition of devour for Students

devoured; devouring

1 : to eat up hungrily

2 : to take in eagerly by the senses or mind

He devoured the information.

3 : to destroy as if by eating

The buildings were devoured by flames.

Word Root of devour

The Latin word vorāre, meaning “to eat greedily,” gives us the root vor. Words from the Latin vorāre have something to do with eating. An herbivorous animal eats only plants. A carnivorous animal eats only other animals. To devour is to eat up greedily. Anyone voracious likes to eat a lot.