Eat: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word in everyday situations, like meals with family or friends.

• We eat dinner together every night.
• I like to eat an apple for a snack.

This word is more formal and can be used in both dietary and non-dietary contexts, like media consumption.

• She consumes a lot of fresh vegetables.
• How much data do you consume on a daily basis?

This is a technical or scientific term, often used in medical or biological contexts.

• The patient ingests the medication once in the morning.
• Humans can ingest small amounts of certain chemicals without harm.

Use this word to describe eating very quickly or with great enthusiasm. It can have a negative connotation if it implies greed.

• After the long hike, we devoured our lunch.
• The children devoured the cake within minutes.

General context for consuming food, suitable for informal and everyday situations.

• I like to eat healthy food
• She eats breakfast at 8 AM

More formal context, often associated with eating dinner or at a restaurant.

• They plan to dine at a fancy restaurant tonight
• We often dine together on weekends

Special occasions or celebrations involving a large amount of food. Implies a sense of abundance and enjoyment.

• They held a grand feast after the wedding
• We will feast together during the holiday

Neutral context, suitable for describing the act of eating, typically in a more structured setting like breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

• Let's have a meal together sometime
• We usually have our meals at the dining table

This word is a verb and is used to describe the action of consuming food. It's suitable for everyday conversation.

• I usually eat breakfast at 7 AM.
• Do you want to eat dinner together?

General term for anything that can be eaten. It's used to discuss all types of edible substances and can refer to both raw and cooked items.

• I need to buy some food for the party.
• Food is essential for survival.

This word is used to describe an occasion when people eat, especially breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's often used in more formal or specific contexts.

• We had a lovely meal at the new restaurant.
• What time do we have our evening meal?

This word is typically used to refer to a specific prepared item of food, usually part of a meal. It can also mean a physical plate or bowl.

• The restaurant's special dish is lasagna.
• Please wash the dishes after dinner.