Definitions

ate

[eyt, et] / eɪt, ɛt /

VERB

consume food

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attack bite chew devour dine feed ingest inhale nibble pick swallow

STRONG

absorb banquet bolt breakfast cram digest dispatch gorge gormandize graze lunch masticate munch nosh ruminate scarf scoff snack sup wolf

WEAK

break bread chow down dispose of fall to feast upon gobble up have a bite have a meal have for make pig of oneself partake of peck at pig out polish off pork out put away take food take in take nourishment

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abstain

STRONG

misunderstand open

WEAK

build maintain preserve

VERB

erode, wear away; use up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bite drain nibble

STRONG

condense corrode crumble decay decompose disappear disintegrate dissipate dissolve exhaust gnaw liquefy melt rot rust spill squander vanish

WEAK

run through waste away

Antonyms

STRONG

appear arrive build coagulate combine develop flourish grow hoard improve put together save solidify unite

WEAK

maintain preserve

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For years, she used to say the Supreme Court was a “family” and that they all got along great—they were all friends who worked together, ate together, and liked each other.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

We looked at maps, got advice on where to go next and ate our sack lunches at a picnic table, marveling at those green slopes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

O’Grady ate ants and moved at night, managing to signal base with radio signal bursts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

To avoid yield traps we also looked for names whose quarterly dividend payments ate up no more than 75% of their earnings.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

“A deer ate those apples once,” said Slop.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff