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.

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

“I ate vitamins on an empty stomach then sat in traffic,” he said with a shrug.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 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

"As children, we would see huge vessels in which food was being cooked. Everyone ate to their fill, and the food never fell short."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

They ate at fine restaurants and attended the opera.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock