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eat

v. · n.
US //ˈit// UK //ˈiːt// eat
Irregular verb past ate past participle eaten
  1. 1 to ingest food (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to put food into your mouth and swallow it.

    to take food into the body through the mouth and swallow it. Ambitransitive — can be used with or without a direct object.

    Example

    We usually eat dinner together at the kitchen table around seven o'clock.

    Example

    The guests began to eat as soon as the host finished the opening toast, enjoying the variety of local dishes provided.
  2. 2 to use up resources (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to use a lot of something, like time, money, or energy.

    to consume or exhaust resources, often used with the particle 'up'.

    Example

    Commuting to the city every day eats up a lot of my free time.

    Example

    The unexpected legal fees began to eat into the company's annual profit margins, forcing a revision of the quarterly budget.
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  1. 3 to worry someone (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to make someone feel very worried or upset over a long time.

    to cause persistent distress or anxiety to someone. Often used in the progressive form with 'at'.

    Example

    I could tell that something was eating him, but he wouldn't talk about it.

    Example

    The guilt of the unspoken secret continued to eat at her, preventing her from fully enjoying the success of the project.
  2. 4 to damage or corrode (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    to slowly destroy the surface of something, like acid on metal.

    to erode or corrode a surface through chemical or physical action.

    Example

    The salty sea air will eventually eat away the paint on the car.

    Example

    Over several decades, the acidic groundwater began to eat into the limestone foundations of the historic cathedral.
  3. 5 to accept a loss (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Business

    to accept the cost of a mistake or a bad deal without complaining.

    to absorb a financial loss or cost as part of a business transaction.

    Example

    The restaurant had to eat the cost of the meal because the order was wrong.

    Example

    Rather than passing the increased shipping rates on to the customers, the retailer decided to eat the difference to remain competitive.

    Usage

    The verb takes a direct object, usually 'the cost' or 'the loss'.
  4. 6 to do something perfectly (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    to do something very well or look very good.

    to perform exceptionally well or to exhibit a highly impressive appearance.

    Example

    Did you see her outfit for the party? She really ate.

    Example

    The lead singer absolutely ate during that final high note, leaving the entire audience in stunned silence.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very modern slang term popular on social media; it is best avoided in professional or academic contexts.
  5. 7 food or a meal (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    food or a place to get food.

    food items or a meal; often used in the plural 'eats' to refer to snacks or light food.

    Example

    We should go find some cheap eats after the movie ends.

    Example

    The festival guide listed all the best local eats, ranging from street food stalls to high-end bistros.
Etymology 1

From Middle English eten, from Old English etan (“to eat”), from Proto-West Germanic etan, from Proto-Germanic etaną (“to eat”), from Proto-Indo-European h₁édti, from h₁ed- (“to eat”). Cognates Cognate with Scots ait (“to eat”), Yola ayth, eight (“to eat”), North Frisian iidj, iit, ää'e, ääre, ääse (“to eat”), Saterland Frisian iete, íete (“to eat”), West Frisian ite (“to eat”), Alemannic German asse, assu, essen, ässe, ässä (“to eat”), Bavarian eisn, essn, èssn (“to eat”), Cimbrian èssan, èzzan (“to eat”), Dutch, Low German eten (“to eat”), German essen (“to eat”), Luxembourgish iessen (“to eat”), Mòcheno èssn (“to eat”), Vilamovian aosa (“to eat”), Yiddish עסן (esn, “to eat”), Danish æde (“to eat”), Elfdalian jätå (“to eat”), Faroese eta (“to eat”), Icelandic eta, éta (“to eat”), Norwegian Bokmål ete (“to eat”), Norwegian Nynorsk eta, ete, åtå (“to eat”), Swedish äta (“to eat”), Gothic 𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (itan, “to eat”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English ete, ate, æte, from Old English ǣt (“food, eating”), from Proto-West Germanic āt, from Proto-Germanic ētą (“food, thing to eat”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed- (“to eat”). Cognate with West Frisian iten (“food”), Saterland Frisian Íeten (“food”), German Aas (“carrion”), Vilamovian aosa (“food”), Icelandic át (“eating; solid food”).

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