ingestion
noun
in·ges·tion
in-ˈjes-chən 
-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.
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
Valerie PutnamAfter two years of almost manic ingestion of book after book—Montaigne, Milton, Seneca, Dante—he began to write Moby-Dick.—Andrew Delbanco
Andrew DelbancoExamples of ingestion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From the death of Socrates by poison hemlock to the accidental ingestion of deadly nightshade by children, poisonous plants have been responsible for human deaths throughout history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The hazards include falls, fires, entrapment, ingestion, and tip‑overs, with many of the products found to violate mandatory federal safety standards.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Other actions include disposing of trash properly to avoid habitat degradation and ingestion by manatees, and reporting injured, orphaned, or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-3922.
—Elizabeth Neville, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Symptoms typically appear within hours or days after ingestion and can last up to eight weeks.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ingestion
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.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The hazards include falls, fires, entrapment, ingestion, and tip‑overs, with many of the products found to violate mandatory federal safety standards.
—Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Other actions include disposing of trash properly to avoid habitat degradation and ingestion by manatees, and reporting injured, orphaned, or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-3922.
—Elizabeth Neville, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Symptoms typically appear within hours or days after ingestion and can last up to eight weeks.
—Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ingestion
Cite this Entry
“Ingestion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingestion. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ingestion
noun
in·ges·tion
in-ˈjes(h)-chən
: the taking of material (as food) into the digestive system
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
