eat

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/it/
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To consume food or to have a meal.
Practice using eat in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • She eats before going to work.
  • Come and eat with us.
  • I eat fruit every day.
  • The children are eating rice.
  • Have you eaten breakfast?

Similar words

dine
consume
have a meal
devour

Meanings

Put food in your mouth

verb
food
neutral
To put food in your mouth, chew it, and swallow it.

Examples

  • I eat fruit every day.
  • She ate an apple.
  • Have you eaten breakfast?
  • The children are eating rice.
  • He does not eat meat.

Similar words

consume
devour

Have a meal

verb
food
neutral
To sit down or otherwise take a meal, often at a particular place or time.

Examples

  • Where shall we eat tonight?
  • We ate at a small café.
  • They usually eat at six.
  • Come and eat with us.
  • She eats before going to work.

Similar words

dine
have a meal

Etymology

From Old English etan, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch eten and German essen.

FAQ

What does eat mean?

It means to take food into the mouth and swallow it, or to have a meal.

What is the past tense of eat?

The simple past is ate.

What is the past participle of eat?

It is eaten.

Can eat be used without an object?

Yes. 'We eat at six' means we have a meal at that time.

What is the difference between eat and drink?

You eat food and drink liquids.

Can eat describe a meal at a restaurant?

Yes. 'We ate at a café' means we had a meal there.

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