# catering

/ˈkeɪtɝɪŋ/ (US) · /kˈeɪtəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/catering
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. food service business

noun · CEFR B2

the work of providing food and drinks for events like parties, weddings, or business meetings.

For teachers: the professional service of providing food and drink, typically for social events or within an institutional framework.

- We need to find a company that handles the catering for the wedding.
- The university outsourced its catering to a private firm to reduce overhead costs while maintaining a consistent standard of service for students.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun or as a modifier before another noun, such as 'catering company'.

### 2. providing what is needed

verb · CEFR B2

the act of providing what a person or group wants or needs.

For teachers: the present participle of 'cater', meaning to provide what is required or desired by a specific audience.

- The new hotel is catering to business travellers who need fast internet.
- By catering specifically to the needs of elderly residents, the community centre has seen a significant increase in daily attendance.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to' or 'for'.

## Examples

- The hotel handles all the catering for the wedding.
- We need to find a company that offers vegetarian catering for the annual conference next month.
- The success of the gala depended heavily on the high-quality catering, which featured a five-course meal sourced entirely from local organic farms.

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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.