- 1[intransitive, transitive] to put food in your mouth, chew it, and swallow it I was too nervous to eat. She doesn't eat healthily (= doesn't eat food that is good for her). eat something I don't eat meat. Would you like something to eat? I couldn't eat another thing (= I have had enough food). Topic CollocationsDiet and Exerciseweight
- put on/gain/lose weight/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 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/distorted body image
- have/develop a positive/healthy/realistic body image
- eat a balanced diet/healthily/well
- get/provide/receive adequate/proper nutrition
- contain/get/provide essential nutrients/vitamins/minerals
- be high/low in calories/fat/fiber/protein/vitamin D/Omega-3 fatty acids/trans-fats
- contain (no)/use/be full of/be free from additives/chemical preservatives/artificial sweeteners/high-fructose corn syrup
- avoid/cut down on/cut out alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods
- stop/quit smoking
- get regular exercise
- do moderate/strenuous/vigorous exercise
- play football/hockey/tennis/soccer
- go jogging/running
- go to/visit/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
- 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
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- 2[intransitive] to have a meal Where should we eat tonight? We ate at a pizzeria in town.
- 1[usually passive] (of insects, etc.) to bite someone many times I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
- 2to defeat someone completely in an argument, a competition, etc. The defense lawyers are going to eat you alive tomorrow.
- 3to criticize or punish someone severely because you are extremely angry with them He'll eat you alive if he ever finds out.
verb jump to other results
NAmE//it//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they eat he / she / it eats
past simple ate
past participle eaten
-ing form eating
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.
to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made
said to encourage someone to enjoy life now, while they can, and not to think of the future
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).
to feel very unhappy, especially because you want someone or something you cannot have I'm not going to mope at home, eating my heart out for some man.
to eat a lot She may be thin, but she eats like a horse.
to trust someone and be willing to do what they say She'll have them eating out of her hand in no time.
to eat a lot of someone else's food How much longer is he staying? He's eating us out of house and home.
to admit that what you said was wrong
to have the advantages of something without its disadvantages; to have both things that are available
used to say that you are very hungry
used to say that you think something is very unlikely to happen If she's here on time, I'll eat my hat!
used to ask what someone is annoyed or worried about Phrasal Verbseat awayeat away ateat intoeat outeat up
Check pronunciation: eat