ingestion

noun

in·​ges·​tion in-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce ingestion (audio)
-ˈjesh-
: the act or process of taking in something for or as if for digestion : the act or process of ingesting something
A Cochrane review showed that ingestion of cranberry products may decrease the number of symptomatic urinary tract infections in women …Giovanni Montini et al.
Celiac disease is the immune-mediated response to ingestion of gluten from wheat, rye and barley that damages the small intestine.Valerie Putnam
After two years of almost manic ingestion of book after book—Montaigne, Milton, Seneca, Dante—he began to write Moby-Dick.Andrew Delbanco

Examples of ingestion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The toxicology report revealed methamphetamine and amphetamine at levels that indicated the amphetamine was present from the metabolism of methamphetamine rather than direct ingestion, authorities added. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026 Typically, the immediate release pills start working within a couple hours of ingestion. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 2026 Most intestinal parasites are limited to certain species and transmission is usually through ingestion of parasitic eggs found in feces. Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026 Clifton's clinical cause of death was ruled as aspiration pneumonitis following ingestion of corrosive detergent, which was specified as dishwasher detergent pods. Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ingestion

Word History

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingestion was in 1620

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Cite this Entry

“Ingestion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingestion. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Medical Definition

ingestion

noun
in·​ges·​tion in-ˈjes(h)-chən How to pronounce ingestion (audio)
: the taking of material (as food) into the digestive system

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