# devour

/dɪˈvaʊɝ/ (US) · /dɪvˈaʊə/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/devour
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

to eat something very quickly because you are extremely hungry. You can also use it to describe reading a book or watching a show with great excitement.

For teachers: to consume food hungrily or greedily; by extension, to enjoy a piece of media or information with intense enthusiasm. Transitive — requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The hungry hikers devour their sandwiches in minutes.
- She was so fascinated by the mystery novel that she managed to devour the entire book in one sitting.
- The wildfire continued to devour the dry brush, moving with a speed that outpaced the local fire department's ability to establish a containment line.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

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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.