ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cater to

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to provide exactly what a person or group needs or wants.

phr. v.. to provide what is required or desired by a specific group or individual; often used in commercial or service contexts to indicate target audience focus.


SIMPLE

This hotel caters to families with young children.

CONTEXTUAL

The new streaming service caters to fans of classic cinema by offering rare films from the 1940s.

COMPLEX

While the primary curriculum caters to the average learner, specialized programs are necessary to support students with diverse educational requirements.

Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
cater + to + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun phrase representing a specific demographic or set of needs.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'cater for' (common in British English for providing food/services); 'cater to' often implies satisfying a specific taste or even a weakness.

Pitfall

The shop caters for all my needs.The shop caters to all my needs.while 'cater for' is common in British English for logistics, 'cater to' is the standard phrasal verb for meeting specific desires or demands.

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