eat

verb

\ ˈēt

ate\ ˈāt

, dialectal or British ˈet \; eaten\ ˈē-tᵊn

\; eating

Definition of eat

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to take in through the mouth as food : ingest, chew, and swallow in turn

2a : to destroy, consume, or waste by or as if by eating expenses ate up the profits gadgets that eat up too much space

b : to bear the expense of : take a loss on the team was forced to eat the rest of his contract

3a : to consume gradually : corrode cars eaten away by rust

b : to consume with vexation : bother what's eating you now

4 : to enjoy eagerly or avidly : lap —used with up it was an amazing performance and the crowd ate it up

5 usually vulgar : to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on —often used with out

intransitive verb

1 : to take food or a meal

2 : to affect something by gradual destruction or consumption —usually used with into, away, or at the loss was really eating at herthe controversy ate into his support

eat alive

: to defeat, conquer, or overwhelm completely : crush was eaten alive by the competition

eat one out of house and home

: to consume more than one can easily provide or afford

eat one's heart out

1 : to grieve bitterly

2 : to be jealous

eat one's words

: to retract what one has said

eat out of one's hand

: to accept the domination of another

eat someone's lunch

: to deprive of profit, dominance, or success

eat

noun

Definition of eat (Entry 2 of 2)

: something to eat : food —usually used in plural

Other Words from eat Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about eat

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of eat in a Sentence

Verb

You'll feel better if you eat something. I ate a big breakfast so I'm not very hungry. They like to eat at home.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Eating it: Some folks spoon directly into their mouths. — Ann Maloney, NOLA.com, "Cajun Caviar? On National Caviar Day, we indulge in Atchafalaya fish eggs," 19 July 2017 New this year to True Nature is a retreat for those with eating disorders and their family members. — Plain Dealer Guest Writer, cleveland.com, "Ohio retreat centers offer a break from busy, close to home (photos)," 19 July 2017 However hot dogs may have originated, the council estimates Americans will eat 7 billion of them between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. — Don Sweeney, sacbee, "It’s National Hot Dog Day! So, where are the deals?," 19 July 2017 In fact, a recent survey showed that 36% of Chick-fil-A dinner customers take their meal to go from restaurants to eat at home. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "Chick-fil-A Is About to Make Picking Up Dinner Easy and Delicious," 19 July 2017 The casual restaurant and bar also offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at 8 a.m. Sundays. — Vickie Snow Jurkowski, Daily Southtown, "Simple cocktail or meal in a glass, the Bloody Mary can be the cure for what ails you," 19 July 2017 Miami was last in the NFL at 57 plays per game last season partly because the offense didn’t convert effectively on third downs, but also because the porous run defense allowed opponents to eat up the clock. — Chris Perkins, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Countdown to training camp: Can Burke turn last year’s so-so defense into a top unit? | Analysis," 19 July 2017 Parents and their children can bring a lunch to eat during the program. — Michelle Mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 18 July 2017 Hammerhead worms contain the same toxin as blowfish and can be harmful if eaten. — Liz Langley, National Geographic, "Watch a Mysterious Worm With an Anus for a Mouth," 15 July 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Nearby Malibu Farm has the best views, cocktails, and great eats, all from the comfort of the Malibu pier. — Jessi Walker, Marie Claire, "Take the Ultimate Southern California Road Trip," 27 June 2019 In the often dog-eat-dog world of Silicon Valley, Butterfield has gained something of a reputation for being less cut-throat than many. — Richard Waters, latimes.com, "How Slack’s non-techie CEO Stewart Butterfield reached the top of Silicon Valley," 22 June 2019 Cat fight: The dog-eat-dog politics of City Hall have turned to cats. — Taylor Kate Brown, SFChronicle.com, "Bay Briefing: BART fare increase may not be a done deal," 4 June 2019 There are two hour dinner options available that come with gourmet eats, live music, and of course, gorgeous views. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "This Luxury Glamping Site Comes With an Infinity Pool and a 65-foot Yacht," 30 May 2019 The unit has central heating and an eat-in kitchen. — Hoodline, The Mercury News, "Renting in Sunnyvale: What you can find for $2,000 per month," 18 June 2019 Here is a ranking of the Costco food court menu items, from our least favorite to best the best in-store eats. — Alex Aronson, Redbook, "The 14 Best Costco Food Court Menu Items, Ranked," 4 Apr. 2019 If last year’s food tents were any indication, consider having a snack on you at all times; brave the crush, though, and you’ll be rewarded with eats from the likes of Roy Choi’s Kogi and Brian Dunsmoor’s Hatchet Hall. — Marielle Wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "The 8 Best Things Going On In L.A. This Weekend," 21 June 2018 Other times, inspiration strikes by trying to get inventive with everyday eats or customer requests. — Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com, "Becoming The Pierogi Lady: Meet Akron's Autumn Johnston," 26 Mar. 2018

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