# eat

/ˈit/ (US) · /ˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eat
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to ingest food

verb · CEFR A1

to put food into your mouth and swallow it.

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

- We usually eat dinner together at the kitchen table around seven o'clock.
- The guests began to eat as soon as the host finished the opening toast, enjoying the variety of local dishes provided.

### 2. to use up resources

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- Commuting to the city every day eats up a lot of my free time.
- The unexpected legal fees began to eat into the company's annual profit margins, forcing a revision of the quarterly budget.

### 3. to worry someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- I could tell that something was eating him, but he wouldn't talk about it.
- The guilt of the unspoken secret continued to eat at her, preventing her from fully enjoying the success of the project.

### 4. to damage or corrode

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: to erode or corrode a surface through chemical or physical action.

- The salty sea air will eventually eat away the paint on the car.
- Over several decades, the acidic groundwater began to eat into the limestone foundations of the historic cathedral.

### 5. to accept a loss

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

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

### 6. to do something perfectly

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to do something very well or look very good.

For teachers: to perform exceptionally well or to exhibit a highly impressive appearance.

- Did you see her outfit for the party? She really ate.
- The lead singer absolutely ate during that final high note, leaving the entire audience in stunned silence.

Teaching tip: This is a very modern slang term popular on social media; it is best avoided in professional or academic contexts.

### 7. food or a meal

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

food or a place to get food.

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

- We should go find some cheap eats after the movie ends.
- The festival guide listed all the best local eats, ranging from street food stalls to high-end bistros.

## Examples

- I like to eat fresh fruit for breakfast.
- We usually eat dinner together as a family around seven o'clock in the evening.
- While some people prefer to eat small snacks throughout the day, others find that three structured meals provide better energy levels for demanding physical work.

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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.