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.

Participants reported everything they ate and drank over three-day periods every six months.

From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2026

And here’s why: The first truly memorable marinated beans I ever ate arrived in a shallow white bowl at a vegetarian Mediterranean restaurant near Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2026

"He did not just lead referees, he took care of us. If you were in Mogadishu and had nothing, he would make sure you ate, he would take you to a restaurant."

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

In February 2019, she reported back to Epstein that she met Gates and discussed science and ate cheeseburgers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

One that boasted of everything they ate, everywhere they went, and every bitter chemical they swam in.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman