breastfeed

verb

breast·​feed ˈbrest-ˌfēd 

variants or breast-feed

breastfed or breast-fed; breastfeeding or breast-feeding; breastfeeds or breast-feeds

transitive verb

: to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast

intransitive verb

1

: to breastfeed a baby

… more women are breastfeeding than ever before …

—Lauren Sandler

2

of a baby : to feed oneself by sucking milk from a mother's breast

breastfed adjective

or breast-fed

breastfed babies

breastfeeder noun

or breast-feeder

breastfeeding noun

or breast-feeding

Synonyms

• nurse
• suckle

Examples of breastfeed in a Sentence

believes that all women should breast-feed their babies

Recent Examples on the Web

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a healthcare provider before using turmeric on the skin or in supplements, as there is not enough evidence to prove its safety in these groups. —Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025

Over 40% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are severely malnourished, while nearly one in five children under the age of five in Gaza City is acutely malnourished. —Guy Davies, ABC News, 29 July 2025

The federal government suggests adults get at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (or 0.36 per pound), which is 51 grams for a 140-pound woman who isn't pregnant or breastfeeding. —Reyna Gobel, NPR, 19 July 2025

Elsewhere during her podcast, the proud mom defended her right to breastfeed in a public place. —Kayla Grant, People.com, 10 July 2025

The Will County Health Department has created a new breastfeeding support group that will meet twice a month. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025

It is not recommended for people who are breastfeeding or pregnant. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 24 July 2025

First aid, hygiene, breastfeeding, and childcare training for 242 people. —Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025

In February 2024, a Black couple filed a lawsuit against multiple DCS employees, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, Coffee County and its sheriff's deputies after their five small children, including a breastfeeding baby, were taken away from them after a March 2023 traffic stop. —Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

breast-feed

verb

ˈbrest-ˌfēd

breast-fed

-ˌfed

; breast-feeding

: to feed a baby from a mother's breast

Medical Definition

breastfeed

verb

breast·​feed

variants or breast-feed

ˈbrest-ˌfēd

breastfed or breast-fed; breastfeeding or breast-feeding; breastfeeds or breast-feeds

transitive verb

: to feed (a baby) from a mother's breast

intransitive verb

1

: to breastfeed a baby

2

of a baby : to feed oneself by sucking milk from a mother's breast

breastfed adjective

or breast-fed

breastfed babies

breastfeeder noun

or breast-feeder

This class for first-time breastfeeders will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

—The Reno (Nevada) Gazette-Journal

On average, infants who were exclusive breast-feeders continued to drink more as they got older …

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

breastfeeding noun

or breast-feeding