# ate

/ˈeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. past tense of eat

verb · CEFR A1

the past tense of eat. You use this to say you finished a meal in the past.

For teachers: the simple past tense of the irregular verb 'eat'.

- We ate a large pizza for dinner last night.
- The guests ate heartily during the reception, praising the chef for the diverse selection of local delicacies.

Usage: Irregular past tense form of 'eat'.

### 2. older sister

noun · CEFR C1 · Dialect

a word used in the Philippines for an older sister or a slightly older woman.

For teachers: a term of address or kinship title for an elder sister or an older female contemporary.

- My ate helped me with my homework after school.
- In many Filipino households, the eldest daughter is addressed as 'Ate' as a sign of respect and familial hierarchy.

Usage: Commonly used in Philippine English and Tagalog-speaking communities.

Teaching tip: This is a cultural loanword; outside of Filipino contexts, learners should use 'older sister' or 'ma'am'.

## Examples

- I ate a large sandwich for lunch today.
- We ate at that new Italian restaurant last night and the pasta was excellent.
- The guests ate sparingly during the formal reception, as they were more focused on the networking opportunities than the provided refreshments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.