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
• wet-nurse

Examples of breastfeed in a Sentence

believes that all women should breast-feed their babies

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, many mothers and newborns miss crucial maternal and infant bonding steps in the postpartum period like skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding. —Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 9 May 2024

When tongue-tie is thought to create breastfeeding difficulties, doctors can conduct a minor surgery called a frenotomy to snip the tissue and increase range of motion, though there has recently been some debate in pediatric medicine that this procedure is overprescribed. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2024

People with glaucoma, who have recently undergone nasal surgery, and who are pregnant or breastfeeding should seek guidance from their healthcare provider. —Shannon Ullman, Health, 6 May 2024

Many mothers describe feeling tremendous pressure to breastfeed their babies. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2024

This may interfere with some medications and is not recommended for pregnancy or breastfeeding. —Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2024

Highlights include a vendor expo with exhibitors and workshops with tips on a range of topics from prenatal care and childbirth to newborn care, breastfeeding and sleep solutions. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

However, for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding their children should try not to use retinol. —Larry Stansbury, Essence, 16 Apr. 2024

There are also ready-to-ship breastfeeding care kits and C-section healing and recovery kits that new parents will appreciate. —Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024

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