# feed on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/feed-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to eat something as a main food source, or to get stronger from a specific feeling or situation.

For teachers: to consume a particular substance as a primary source of nourishment; figuratively, to derive strength, energy, or momentum from a specific source.

## Examples

- Cows feed on grass in the fields.
- The politician seemed to feed on the energy of the crowd during the rally.
- Certain species of deep-sea organisms feed on the chemical nutrients released by hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The birds feed on of seeds." but "The birds feed on seeds." — the verb takes the preposition 'on' directly before the object without adding 'of'.

## Usage notes

- often used for animals or insects, but common in figurative contexts for humans.
- Teaching tip: distinguish between the literal biological sense and the figurative sense where an emotion or situation sustains a person's motivation.

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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.