English Reference

Word

breakfast

Phoneticsbreak·fast, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈbɹɛkfəst/

UK/bɹˈɛkfəst/

Definitions

01first meal of the day

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. the first meal you eat after waking up, usually in the morning.

n. the first meal of the day, typically consumed during the morning hours.

“I usually have a quick breakfast of toast and coffee before I leave for work.”

“Nutritionists often argue that a balanced breakfast provides the necessary glucose to maintain cognitive function throughout a demanding morning schedule.”

02type of food

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a meal made of foods usually eaten in the morning, like eggs or cereal, even if eaten later.

n. a meal consisting of specific food items traditionally associated with the morning, regardless of the time of consumption.

“The café serves a full English breakfast all day long.”

“The diner specialised in traditional breakfast fare, offering pancakes and smoked bacon well into the evening hours for late-shift workers.”

03post-ceremony meal

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Formal

n. a special meal served after a formal event like a wedding.

n. a celebratory meal served following a religious or solemn ceremony, most commonly a wedding.

“After the church service, the guests gathered for a wedding breakfast at a nearby hotel.”

“The wedding breakfast was held in the grand ballroom, featuring a three-course menu that reflected the couple's heritage.”

Synonyms

04to eat the morning meal

C1 · Advanced Literary · Formal

v. to eat your first meal of the day.

v. to consume the morning meal; used as an intransitive verb.

“The guests breakfasted on the terrace while enjoying the view of the mountains.”

“The travellers breakfasted early at the inn before continuing their journey across the pass.”

Synonyms

eat

Real-World Examples

“Push the boat out at the weekend and have yourself a savoury and satisfying cooked breakfast.”
BBC Food 6 Jan 2026
“Research indicates that individuals who forgo breakfast often consume less fiber, vital minerals, and vitamins.”
The Guardian 6 Jan 2025
“There’s no good reason you can’t eat a chicken-parmesan hoagie for breakfast.”
The Atlantic 14 May 2019
“Imagine an American breakfast and what comes to mind?”
BBC News 12 Aug 2014

Etymology

Middle English brekefast, modelled on the Old English fæstenbryċe, a compound whose second element supplies the older word for the meal and whose first element explains what one does to it: bryċe is “breaking”, fæsten is “fast”. Thus the daily action of ending the overnight abstention from food.

The Dutch cognate breekvasten keeps the same logic, merely shifting the word order.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Idioms

In Literature

Cover for Breakfast at Tiffany's

Cover: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — Jacket design by Ismar David (1910-1996).

Breakfast at Tiffany's · 1958-01-01 · Drama fiction

Author:
Truman Capote

Truman Capote’s 1958 novella introduces Holly Golightly, a socialite who finds comfort standing outside a luxury jewelry store while eating her morning meal. The title refers to her habit of visiting the shop's windows at dawn, using the quiet ritual of the day's first meal to escape her anxieties.

Domain

Religion

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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English Reference