Eats — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase plural noun /ˈēt/

Meaning & Definition of Eats

Eats (verb)

  1. to take in through the mouth as food, ingest, chew, and swallow in turn
  2. to destroy, consume, or waste by or as if by eating
  3. to bear the expense of, take a loss on

Eats (noun)

  1. something to eat, food —usually used in plural
  2. an act or pattern of excessive or compulsive consumption of food; specifically, uncontrolled compulsive eating especially as a symptom of bulimia or binge eating disorder

Eats (phrase)

  1. to be careful about eating healthy foods and not eating too much
  2. to defeat, conquer, or overwhelm completely, crush
  3. to consume more than one can easily provide or afford
  4. to grieve bitterly
  5. to be jealous
  6. to retract what one has said
  7. to accept the domination of another
  8. to deprive of profit, dominance, or success

Eats (plural noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. substances intended to be eaten

    "there are some good eats at the buffet table"

    similar: bread, chow, chuck (chiefly West), comestibles, eatables, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provender, provisions, table, tucker (chiefly Australian), viands, victuals, vittles
    related: commissary, rations, supplies, aliment, nutriment, diet, nourishment, nurture, sustenance, mess, pap, ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill, feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread, board, dish, plate, platter, serving, finger food, natural food
    near: bane, poison, toxin, venom

Eats (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take in as food

    "having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers"

    similar: consumes, ingests, partakes (of), puts away, puts down, tucks (away or in)
    related: digests, downs, mouths (down), swallows, bolts, chows (down on), devours, gluts (on), gobbles (up or down), gorges, gulps, scoffs, slops, snarfs (down), swills, wolfs, chews, gnaws (at or on), gums, laps, licks, nibbles (on), nurses, picks (at), relishes, savors, tastes, banquets, dines, fares, feasts, gormandizes, pigs out, regales, dispatches, polishes off, breakfasts, lunches, sups, munches, noshes, snacks

  2. to consume or wear away gradually

    "the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid"

    similar: bites (at), corrodes, erodes, frets, gnaws, nibbles
    related: breaks down, breaks up, decomposes, disintegrates, dissolves, decimates, destroys, devastates, ruins, wastes, wrecks
    near: freshens, recreates, refreshens, refreshes, regenerates, rejuvenates, renews, restores, revitalizes, revives

  3. to take a meal

    "where's the best place to eat in this town?"

    similar: dines, fares, feeds, partakes, refreshes, victuals, breaks bread
    related: banquets, feasts, repasts, chows (down), digs in, gluts, gorges, gormandizes, overeats, overfeeds, pigs out, grazes, nibbles, noshes, picks, snacks, boards, dines out, messes, breakfasts, lunches, sups, picnics
    near: diets, fasts

  4. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "it really eats me the way people go to national parks to enjoy nature—and then leave their litter behind"

    similar: aggravates, annoys, bothers, bugs, burns (up), chafes, exasperates, frosts, galls, gets, grates, gripes, hacks (off), irks, irritates, itches, narks (British), nettles, peeves, persecutes, piques, puts out, rasps, riles, ruffles, spites, vexes, gets one's goat, gets on one's nerves, gets to, rubs the wrong way, sets one's teeth on edge, sticks in one's craw, wears on
    related: hassles, heckles, nags, inflames, provokes, rouses, badgers, baits, bullyrags, devils, hagrides, harasses, harries, pesters, plagues, teases, angers, antagonizes, enrages, incenses, infuriates, maddens, rankles, roils, agitates, discomforts, discomposes, disquiets, distresses, exercises, freaks (out), frets, perturbs, undoes, unhinges, unsettles, upsets, worries, affronts, insults, miffs, offends, outrages
    near: appeases, conciliates, mollifies, obliges, pacifies, placates, propitiates, delights, gladdens, gratifies, pleases, satisfies, assures, cheers, comforts, consoles, contents, quiets, reassures, solaces, soothes

Related Entry: Eat (verb)

Eat is a different word from Eats. The synonyms below are for eat, not for eats.

  1. to take in as food

    "having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers"

    similar: consume, ingest, partake (of), put away, put down, tuck (away or in)
    related: digest, down, mouth (down), swallow, bolt, chow (down on), devour, glut (on), gobble (up or down), gorge, gulp, scoff, slop, snarf (down), swill, wolf, chew, gnaw (at or on), gum, lap, lick, nibble (on), nurse, pick (at), relish, savor, taste, banquet, dine, fare, feast, gormandize, pig out, regale, dispatch, polish off, breakfast, lunch, sup, munch, nosh, snack

  2. to consume or wear away gradually

    "the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid"

    similar: bite (at), corrode, erode, fret, gnaw, nibble
    related: break down, break up, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, decimate, destroy, devastate, ruin, waste, wreck
    near: freshen, recreate, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive

  3. to take a meal

    "where's the best place to eat in this town?"

    similar: dine, fare, feed, partake, refresh, victual, break bread
    related: banquet, feast, repast, chow (down), dig in, glut, gorge, gormandize, overeat, overfeed, pig out, graze, nibble, nosh, pick, snack, board, mess, dine out, breakfast, lunch, sup, picnic
    near: diet, fast

  4. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "it really eats me the way people go to national parks to enjoy nature—and then leave their litter behind"

    similar: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, itch, nark (British), nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex, get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on
    related: hassle, heckle, nag, inflame, provoke, rouse, badger, bait, bullyrag, devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil, agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry, affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage
    near: appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

Related Entry: Eat (up) (verb)

Eat (up) is a different word from Eats. The synonyms below are for eat (up), not for eats.

  1. to receive or accept gladly or readily

    "predictably, moviegoers ate up the sequel to last summer's blockbuster"

    similar: drink (in), embrace, lap (up), welcome
    related: adopt, espouse, take up, greet, hail, enjoy, like, prefer, cherry-pick, choose, cull, decide (on), elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, select, single (out), take
    near: balk (at), decline, pass up, refuse, reject, spurn, throw over, turn down, demur (to), object (to)

  2. to destroy all trace of

    "the surf created by a powerful hurricane could really eat up what's left of the island's eastern beach"

    similar: consume, devour
    related: gut, deplete, drain, exhaust, expend, spend, use up, annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, waste, wreck, blot out, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, obliterate, remove, rub out, stamp (out), wipe out
    near: conserve, preserve, protect, save, build, construct, erect, put up, raise

Related Entry: Eats alive (phrase)

Eats alive is a different word from Eats. The synonyms below are for eats alive, not for eats.

  1. to defeat by a large margin

    "We thought we were prepared, but the other team ate us alive."

    similar: annihilates, blows away, bombs, buries, clobbers, creams, drubs, dusts, flattens, pastes, routs, shellacs, skins, skunks, smokes (slang), smothers, snows under, thrashes, trims, tromps, trounces, wallops, waxes (slang), whips, whomps, whops, whups, beats the pants off, runs circles around, wipes the floor with
    related: sweeps, upsets, beats, bests, conquers, dispatches, hurdles, licks, masters, overbears, overcomes, overmatches, prevails (over), subdues, surmounts, takes, throws, triumphs (over), wins (against), worsts, crushes, knocks off, knocks over, overpowers, overthrows, overwhelms, subjugates, upends, vanquishes, aces (out), betters, eclipses, exceeds, outdistances, outdoes, outfights, outshines, outstrips, overtops, surpasses, tops, transcends, edges (out), noses out, pips (British), caps, excels, flourishes, scores, succeeds, breaks, destroys, does in, finishes, sinks, slaughters

Related Entry: Eats one's heart out (phrase)

Eats one's heart out is a different word from Eats. The synonyms below are for eats one's heart out, not for eats.

  1. to feel deep sadness or mental pain

    "He was admiring my new car, but I told him to eat his heart out because I'd never let him drive it."

    similar: agonizes, anguishes, bleeds, grieves, hurts, mourns, sorrows, suffers, tears one's hair
    related: aches, longs (for), pines (away), sighs, smarts, racks, torments, tortures, bemoans, bewails, deplores, laments, rues, bawls, blubbers, cries, groans, howls, keens, moans, sobs, takes on, wails, weeps, yammers, yowls, languishes, regrets
    near: beams, cheers, crows, delights, exults, glories, joys, laughs, ravishes, rejoices, triumphs, assures, comforts, commiserates, consoles, reassures, solaces, soothes, sympathizes

Related Entry: Eat alive (phrase)

Eat alive is a different word from Eats. The synonyms below are for eat alive, not for eats.

  1. to defeat by a large margin

    "We thought we were prepared, but the other team ate us alive."

    similar: annihilate, blow away, bomb, bury, clobber, cream, drub, dust, flatten, paste, rout, shellac, skin, skunk, smoke (slang), smother, snow under, thrash, trim, tromp, trounce, wallop, wax (slang), whip, whomp, whop, whup, beat the pants off, run circles around, wipe the floor with
    related: sweep, upset, beat, best, conquer, dispatch, hurdle, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), subdue, surmount, take, throw, triumph (over), win (against), worst, crush, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, overwhelm, subjugate, upend, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, break, destroy, do in, finish, sink, slaughter

Related Entry: Eating one's heart out (phrase)

Eating one's heart out is a different word from Eats. The synonyms below are for eating one's heart out, not for eats.

  1. having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages

    "She's been eating her heart out since her friends have started buying their own houses."

    similar: covetous, envious, green-eyed, invidious, jaundiced, jealous, resentful, green with envy
    related: begrudging, grudging, avaricious, grasping, greedy, rapacious, distrustful, suspicious, malicious, petty, spiteful
    opposite: unenvious
    near: generous, kind, kindhearted, altruistic, benevolent, charitable, well-meaning

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Eats

The most common words with a similar meaning to Eats:

Chiefly West: chuck
Chiefly Australian: tucker
British: narks
bread, chow, comestibles, eatables, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provender, provisions, table, viands, victuals, vittles, consumes, ingests, partakes (of), puts away, puts down, tucks (away or in), bites (at), corrodes, erodes, frets, gnaws, nibbles, dines, fares, feeds, partakes, refreshes, aggravates, annoys, bothers, bugs, burns (up), chafes, exasperates

Related Words for Eats

commissary, rations, supplies, aliment, nutriment, diet, nourishment, nurture, sustenance, mess, pap, ensilage, feed, fodder, forage, silage, slop, swill, feast, meal, refreshments, regale, repast, spread, board, dish, plate, platter, serving, finger food

Near Antonyms of Eats

bane, poison, toxin, venom, freshens, recreates, refreshens, refreshes, regenerates, rejuvenates, renews, restores, revitalizes, revives, diets, fasts, appeases, conciliates, mollifies, obliges, pacifies, placates, propitiates, delights, gladdens, gratifies, pleases, satisfies, assures, cheers

Word Forms of Eats

Inflections: ate, eaten, eating

Derived words: eater (noun), binge eat (verb transitive + intransitive), binge eater (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Eats

Middle English eten, from Old English etan; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat, Latin edere, Greek edmenai

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Eats

watch what one eats

Frequently Asked Questions about Eats

What does "Eats" mean?

"Eats" means to take in through the mouth as food, ingest, chew, and swallow in turn. As an a verb, a noun, a phrase and a plural noun, it is defined as: to take in through the mouth as food, ingest, chew, and swallow in turn. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Eats"?

Other words for "Eats" include bread, chow, chuck, comestibles, eatables, edibles, fare and food. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Eats" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Eats"?

There are 206 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Eats". Common alternatives include bread, chow, chuck, comestibles, eatables, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs and grub.

How do you use "Eats" in a sentence?

Examples of "Eats" in a sentence: "there are some good eats at the buffet table"; "having gone all day without food, we greedily ate the hamburgers"; "the pot's protective coating was eaten away by the acid".

Is "Eats" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Eats" can be used as a verb, a noun, a phrase and a plural noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Eats"?

"Eats" is pronounced /ˈēt/.

What is the origin of the word "Eats"?

"Eats" comes from Middle English eten, from Old English etan; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat, Latin edere, Greek edmenai. First known use: before 12th centuryt.

What is another word for "Eats" meaning "substances intended to be eaten"?

When "Eats" (plural noun) means substances intended to be eaten, synonyms include bread, chow, chuck, comestibles, eatables and edibles.