# diet

/ˈdaɪət/ (US) · /dˈaɪət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diet
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. habitual food intake

noun · CEFR A1

the food and drink that a person or animal usually eats.

For teachers: the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.

- A healthy diet should include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- The traditional Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of olive oil, legumes, and unrefined cereals.

### 2. weight loss plan

noun · CEFR A2

a special plan where you eat specific foods to lose weight or improve your health.

For teachers: a restricted or regulated course of food and drink, typically pursued for medical reasons or to reduce body weight.

- I am going on a diet because I want to lose five kilograms before summer.
- After the check-up, the doctor advised him to start a low-sodium diet to help manage his blood pressure.

### 3. political assembly

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal meeting or assembly of leaders to discuss laws and government.

For teachers: a formal deliberative assembly or legislative body in certain countries.

- The Japanese Diet passed a new law regarding environmental protection.
- The historic Diet of Worms was a critical assembly that addressed the effects of the Protestant Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire.

Usage: Often capitalized when referring to a specific national body, such as the Japanese Diet.

### 4. to eat less to lose weight

verb · CEFR B1

to limit what you eat so that you can become thinner.

For teachers: to restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight.

- She has been dieting for three weeks but hasn't lost much weight yet.
- Many people find it difficult to continue dieting once the initial rapid weight loss begins to plateau.

Usage: The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

### 5. low-calorie

adjective · CEFR A2

food or drink that has less sugar or fat than the normal version.

For teachers: referring to food or drink formulated to be low in calories, sugar, or fat.

- I prefer the taste of regular cola to the diet version.
- The supermarket aisle was stocked with diet snacks that claimed to satisfy sugar cravings without the added calories.

## Examples

- A healthy diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables.
- The doctor recommended a low-salt diet to help manage his high blood pressure.
- While the traditional Mediterranean diet is celebrated for its cardiovascular benefits, modern urban lifestyles have increasingly shifted toward processed foods high in refined sugars.

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