devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r 

dē-

devoured; devouring; devours

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

Synonyms

• consume

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 on the Web

This one is interesting with three nominations for The White Lotus and three nominations for Severance, leaving lone Paradise contender James Marsden a real shot at a win if the others devour each other. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

Tom Izzo and other Michigan State luminaries have been known to devour it. —The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

Who knows, maybe even a little bit of Hollywood magic might bring the two stars together, a project for which we'll be sat and ready to devour. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025

The honor fell to Rival Son’s majestic vocalist Jay Buchanan, who took the stage barefoot, in a maroon suit, and proceeded to devour the angry rock anthem. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for devour

• bower
• cower
• dour
• flour
• flower
• fower
• glower
• hour
• our
• power
• scour
• shower

Kids Definition

devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(ə)r 

1

: to eat up greedily or hungrily

devoured everything on his plate

2

: to use up or destroy as if by eating

fire devoured the barn

3

: to enjoy eagerly

devour a book