Word
eating
Phoneticseat·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈitɪŋ/
UK/ˈiːtɪŋ/
Definitions
01the act of having food
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. the act of putting food in your mouth and swallowing it.
n. the act of ingesting food. Uncountable in its general sense, though it can be countable when referring to specific instances.
“Healthy eating is important if you want to have more energy during the day.”
“The study suggests that mindful eating can significantly reduce the frequency of stress-induced snacking among office workers.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02food or cooking
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal · Dialect
n. a way of talking about food or the quality of a meal.
n. food, cooking, or cuisine. Often used in informal or regional contexts to describe the quality of a meal.
“The hotel was basic, but the eating was excellent.”
“He promised us some fine eating once we reached the coastal village, which was famous for its traditional seafood recipes.”
03ready to be eaten
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. used to describe fruit or food that can be eaten raw or without being cooked.
adj. suitable for consumption without further preparation or cooking; often used to distinguish varieties of fruit.
“Make sure you buy eating apples rather than the sour ones used for pies.”
“The orchard specializes in eating cherries, which are prized for their sweetness and firm texture compared to industrial varieties.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “eating” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English etynge, from Old English eting.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/eating