# cater to

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cater-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The shop caters for all my needs." but "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.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.