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

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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

Our general strategy is to pair cheap eats (ideally, under $10 per person) with the day’s beach destination. — New York Times, "Nantucket for Cheapskates," 25 June 2019 Beyond the island is an eat-in area with a curving bank of floor-to-ceiling windows and a door to the wrap-around deck. — Carol Riordan, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 59 Papermill Road, Glastonbury," 28 Dec. 2017 Lower Dens' fourth LP The Competition melds unsparing assessments of capitalism and its dog-eat-dog struggle for status and stuff, reflections on relationships gone wrong, radical empathy and lush, sparkling, orchestral synth-pop. — John Norris, Billboard, "Why Lower Dens' Jana Hunter Is Both 'Terrified' and 'More Comfortable' Since Transitioning," 5 Sep. 2019 There will also be cheap eats and picnic fare from Snow City and Captain Cook. — Anchorage Daily News, "Fun things to do this week around Anchorage," 17 July 2019 Meanwhile, the revolution Fleck’s actions unintentionally set off — an eat-the-rich mob unleashes to overthrow the banking system — is fraught with unclear political symbolism. — Steven Zeitchik, Washington Post, "In era of mass murder, Warner Bros.' ‘Joker’ will probably be too much for many," 11 Sep. 2019 Very quick eats are offered on the lawn, allowing optimum time for shopping. — Brenda Yenke, cleveland.com, "Summer shopping with Lakeside Antiques: Yenke Peddler antiques," 22 Aug. 2019 Yet where drivers once filled up on premium gas, diners now fill up on premium eats. — Rand Richards Cooper, courant.com, "Review: M/BAR in Mystic turns out premium eats and brims with brashness and flair," 12 July 2019 The shrimping industry has been prevalent on the Gulf Coast for decades, and these tender, juicy shrimp are excellent cooked just about any way, including served cold, as peel-and-eats. — Holly V. Kapherr, USA TODAY, "Delicious eats to savor along Florida’s Paradise Coast," 9 July 2019

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.