eat
verb /iːt/
/iːt/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they eat | /iːt/ /iːt/ |
| he / she / it eats | /iːts/ /iːts/ |
| past simple ate | /et/, /eɪt/ /eɪt/ |
| past participle eaten | /ˈiːtn/ /ˈiːtn/ |
| -ing form eating | /ˈiːtɪŋ/ /ˈiːtɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to put food in your mouth, bite it and swallow it
- I was too nervous to eat.
- to eat well/healthily
- She doesn't eat properly (= doesn't eat food that is good for her).
- eat something I don't eat meat.
- to eat breakfast/lunch/dinner
- Would you like something to eat?
- I couldn't eat another thing (= I have had enough food).
Collocations Diet and exerciseDiet and exerciseWeight- put on/gain/lose weight/a few kilos/a few pounds
- watch/control/struggle with your weight
- be/become seriously overweight/underweight
- be/become clinically/morbidly obese
- achieve/facilitate/promote/stimulate weight loss
- slim down to 70 kilos/(British English) 11 stone/(especially North American English) 160 pounds
- combat/prevent/tackle/treat obesity
- develop/have/suffer from/struggle with/recover from anorexia/bulimia/an eating disorder
- be on/go on/follow a crash/strict diet
- have/suffer from a negative/poor body image
- have/develop a positive/healthy body image
- eat a balanced diet/healthily/sensibly
- get/provide/receive adequate/proper nutrition
- contain/get/provide essential nutrients/vitamins/minerals
- be high/low in calories/fat/fibre/protein/vitamin D/Omega-3 fatty acids
- contain (no)/use/be full of/be free from additives/chemical preservatives/artificial sweeteners
- avoid/cut down on/cut out alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods
- stop/give up/ (especially North American English) quit smoking
- (British English) take regular exercise
- do moderate/strenuous/vigorous exercise
- play football/hockey/tennis
- go cycling/jogging/running
- go to/visit/ (especially North American English) hit/work out at the gym
- strengthen/tone/train your stomach muscles
- contract/relax/stretch/use/work your lower-body muscles
- build (up)/gain muscle
- improve/increase your stamina/energy levels/physical fitness
- burn/consume/expend calories
- be/get/keep/stay healthy/in shape/(especially British English) fit
- lower your cholesterol/blood pressure
- boost/stimulate/strengthen your immune system
- prevent/reduce the risk of heart disease/high blood pressure/diabetes/osteoporosis
- reduce/relieve/manage/combat stress
- enhance/promote relaxation/physical and mental well-being
Extra ExamplesTopics Cooking and eatinga1- Barton did not feel very hungry and ate sparingly.
- Do you have anything to eat?
- Keep a record of everything you eat and drink.
- Do you want to grab a bite to eat?
- Everyone happily ate the huge meal.
- Go and get yourself something to eat and drink.
- He had not eaten properly for days.
- He'd barely eaten any breakfast.
- He's not eating enough.
- I'm trying to eat more healthily.
- Try and eat something. It will do you good.
- We ate very well most of the time.
- I ate junk food and stopped working out.
- Try to eat a balanced diet.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- well
- a lot
- enough
- …
- find something to
- get (yourself) something to
- grab something to
- …
- a bite to eat
- eat and drink
- eat like a horse
- …
- [intransitive] to have a meal
- Where shall we eat tonight?
- We ate at a pizzeria.
- I never eat in the school cafeteria.
Extra ExamplesTopics Cooking and eatinga1- We eventually sat down to eat at 8.30 p.m.
- We went out to eat for a Chinese New Year celebration.
- Let's go eat.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- well
- a lot
- enough
- …
- find something to
- get (yourself) something to
- grab something to
- …
- a bite to eat
- eat and drink
- eat like a horse
- …
Word OriginOld English etan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eten and German essen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin edere and Greek edein.
Idioms
(a case of) dog eat dog
- a situation in business, politics, etc. where there is a lot of competition and people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed
- I'm afraid in this line of work it's a case of dog eat dog.
- We're operating in a dog-eat-dog world.
Wordfinder
- binge
- calorie
- diet
- digest
- eat
- fattening
- food
- meal
- restaurant
- taste
eat somebody alive (informal)
- to criticize or punish somebody severely because you are extremely angry with them
- He’ll eat you alive if he ever finds out.
- to defeat somebody completely in an argument, a competition, etc.
- The defence lawyers are going to eat you alive tomorrow.
- [usually passive] (of insects, etc.) to bite somebody many times
- I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
eat dirt
- (informal) to accept bad treatment and being made to feel small or stupid
- Her mother ate dirt in poorly-paid jobs just so the family could stay in the country.
eat, drink and be merry
- (saying) said to encourage somebody to enjoy life now, while they can, and not to think of the future
eat your heart out!
- (informal) used to compare two things and say that one of them is better
- Look at him dance! Eat your heart out, Fred Astaire (= he dances even better than Fred Astaire).
eat your heart out (for somebody/something)
- (especially British English) to feel very unhappy, especially because you want somebody/something you cannot have
- I’m not going to mope at home, eating my heart out for some man.
eat humble pie
(North American English also eat crow)
- to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made
eat like a horse
- (informal) to eat a lot
- She may be thin, but she eats like a horse.
eat out of your/somebody’s hand
- to trust somebody and be willing to do what they say
- She'll have them eating out of her hand in no time.
eat somebody out of house and home
- (informal, often humorous) to eat a lot of somebody else’s food
- How much longer is he staying? He’s eating us out of house and home.
More Like This Alliteration in idiomsAlliteration in idioms- belt and braces
- black and blue
- born and bred
- chalk and cheese
- chop and change
- done and dusted
- down and dirty
- in dribs and drabs
- eat somebody out of house and home
- facts and figures
- fast and furious
- first and foremost
- forgive and forget
- hale and hearty
- hem and haw
- kith and kin
- mix and match
- part and parcel
- puff and pant
- to rack and ruin
- rant and rave
- risk life and limb
- short and sweet
- signed and sealed
- spic and span
- through thick and thin
- this and that
- top and tail
- tried and tested
- wax and wane
eat your words
- to admit that what you said was wrong
- When he told her she would fail, she swore she would make him eat his words.
have your cake and eat it (British English)
(also have your cake and eat it too North American English, British English)
- to have the advantages of something without its disadvantages; to have both things that are available
I could eat a horse
- (informal) used to say that you are very hungry
I’ll eat my hat
- (informal) used to say that you think something is very unlikely to happen
- If she's here on time, I'll eat my hat!
like the cat that got/ate/swallowed the canary (US English)
(British English like a cat that’s got the cream)
- very pleased with yourself synonym smug
- She looked like a cat that’s swallowed the canary. She was almost purring with pleasure.
what’s eating him, etc?
- (informal) used to ask what somebody is annoyed or worried about