cater to
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to provide exactly what a person or group needs or wants.
phrasal verb. 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.
This hotel caters to families with young children.
The new streaming service caters to fans of classic cinema by offering rare films from the 1940s.
While the primary curriculum caters to the average learner, specialized programs are necessary to support students with diverse educational requirements.
- serve
- accommodate
- satisfy
- pander to
- Particles
- to
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- cater + to + object
usually followed by a noun phrase representing a specific demographic or set of needs.
contrast with 'cater for' (common in British English for providing food/services); 'cater to' often implies satisfying a specific taste or even a weakness.
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.
Last updated April 24, 2026