Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Devouring Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🍽️
Add to dictionary

devouring

[dɪˈvaʊərɪŋ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

eating quickly and greedily

Devouring means to eat something quickly and greedily. It often implies consuming a large amount of food in a short period of time.

Synonyms

consume, gobble, ingest.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
consume

This is a more formal term that can include eating or drinking, but also refers to using up resources, energy, or time. It's quite versatile.

  • He consumes a lot of protein to build muscle
  • The project consumed most of our budget
gobble

Used informally to describe eating something quickly and often noisily, typically in a way that is considered impolite.

  • The children gobbled up their dinner before running out to play
ingest

This is a more scientific term used to describe the process of taking substances (food, drink, medicine) into the body through the mouth.

  • Humans ingest both solid and liquid food to survive
  • It's important to know what chemicals you are ingesting with your food

Examples of usage

  • She was devouring the delicious pizza as if she hadn't eaten for days.
  • The children were devouring the candies that they found in the jar.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Culinary Context

  • In cooking, 'devouring' can refer to indulging in meals that are particularly tasty or prepared with passion.
  • Food competitions, like 'eating contests', often showcase the excitement of devouring large quantities in a short time.
  • Culinary critiques sometimes use 'devouring' to describe the experience of enjoying a meal in a way that emphasizes speed and enthusiasm.

Psychology

  • The act of devouring food can be connected to emotional states, where comfort foods are consumed rapidly during stress.
  • Experts suggest that fast eating can lead to overeating, as the brain takes time to signal fullness.
  • Ferocious appetites might also represent deeper psychological needs, reflecting a desire for nourishment beyond just physical hunger.

Pop Culture

  • In movies, characters who are 'devouring' food often symbolize exaggerated greed or humor, leading to memorable scenes.
  • Television shows like 'MasterChef' include challenges where contestants must prepare dishes that are 'devoured' by judges, heightening drama.
  • Numerous songs and books reference 'devouring' as a metaphor for consuming experiences, relationships, or knowledge.

Literature

  • Authors often use 'devouring' to illustrate intense emotions, such as passion or voracity in love, as seen in classic novels.
  • In many adventure narratives, the metaphor of 'devouring' the world reflects characters' hunger for exploration and knowledge.
  • Poetry sometimes employs 'devouring' as a powerful image, representing the overwhelming nature of desire or ambition.

Origin of 'devouring'

Main points about word origin

  • The word originates from the Latin 'devorare', meaning 'to swallow down or eat greedily'.
  • In Old French, it transformed to 'devorer', which still means to eat voraciously or to consume quickly.
  • Related words include 'voracious', which describes an appetite that craves food insatiably.

The word 'devouring' originated from the Old French word 'devorer', which came from the Latin word 'devorare', meaning 'to swallow'. The concept of devouring food quickly and greedily has been observed in various cultures throughout history, often associated with abundance, indulgence, or survival instincts.

See also: devour, devoured.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,245, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.