Treat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Treat

Treat (verb)

to deal with in speech or writing, expound
to present or represent artistically
to deal with, handle

Treat (noun)

the act of providing another with free food, drink, or entertainment
an entertainment given without expense to those invited
an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement

Treat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to behave toward in a stated way

"she tries to treat all of her students fairly and equally, regardless of her personal feelings toward them"

similar: act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, use, do by

related: consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view, engage (with), react (to), respond (to)
to deal with (something) usually skillfully or efficiently

"school officials treated the vandalism of the students' artwork as a very serious matter"

similar: address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, handle, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, come to grips with, have a grip on

related: engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, react (to), respond (to)

near: botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem

"I will treat with my lawyer and let you know what we decide"

similar: advise, confab, confabulate, confer, consult, counsel, parley

related: argue, bandy, bat (around), chew over, debate, deliberate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), kick around, moot, palaver, talk, talk over, ventilate, rehash, coach, guide, tutor, recommend, suggest, direct, refer (to)
to give medical treatment to

"a nurse treating a patient"

similar: doctor

related: cure, heal, mend, rehabilitate, remedy, attend, care (for), dose, drug, hospitalize, minister (to), nurse

Treat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

a source of great satisfaction

"spending a long weekend at a ski resort is a real treat"

similar: delectation, delight, feast, gas (slang), joy, kick, manna, pleasure

related: amusement, diversion, entertainment, fun, recreation, comfort, relief, solace, gratification, indulgence, ambrosia
something that is pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury

"for us sushi is a real treat since no restaurant around here makes it"

similar: bit, cate (archaic), dainty, delectable, delicacy, goody, kickshaw, tidbit, viand

related: morsel, candy, dessert, junket, sweet, sweetmeat

Related Entry: Treat (of) (verb)

Treat (of) is a different word from Treat. The synonyms below are for treat (of), not for treat.

to have (something) as a subject matter

"his paper treats of the ethical dilemmas that doctors face every day in the emergency rooms of urban hospitals"

similar: concern, cover, deal (with), pertain (to), have to do with

related: appertain (to), bear (on or upon), refer (to), relate (to), advert (to), allude (to), cite, glance (upon), instance, mention, name, note, notice, quote, specify, touch (upon), offer, present, contain, embrace, encompass, entail, include, incorporate

near: exclude, omit, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over), brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off

Related Entry: Ill-treat (verb)

Ill-treat is a different word from Treat. The synonyms below are for ill-treat, not for treat.

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

"anyone who ill-treats their pets should not be allowed to have any"

similar: abuse, brutalize, bully, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over (slang), mishandle, mistreat, misuse, take apart

related: molest, outrage, violate, harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture, burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong, beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)

near: care (for), cherish, foster, nurture, baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

Related Entry: Heat-treat (verb)

Heat-treat is a different word from Treat. The synonyms below are for heat-treat, not for treat.

as in temper

similar: temper, bake, boil, broil, steam, microwave, heat, toast, warm

opposite: chill, cool, refrigerate, air-condition, freeze, frost, ice, quick-freeze, supercool

Related Entry: Stand (verb)

Stand is a different word from Treat. The synonyms below are for stand, not for treat.

to occupy a place or location

"the monument stands in the middle of the town plaza"

similar: be, bear, lie, sit

related: command, overlook, hang around, remain, rest, stay, stick around, tarry, await, wait, post, station, dwell, reside
to put up with (something painful or difficult)

"I don't know how you can stand that job"

similar: abide, absorb, accept, bear, bide (chiefly dialect), brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear (British), live with, lump (it), stand for, tough it out

related: allow, permit, suffer, swallow, reconcile (to), acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)

near: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down, combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist, avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)
to give what is owed for

"I'll stand lunch, and you can pay me back later"

similar: ante (up), balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for)

opposite: repudiate
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes

"if the city's baseball team wins today, they will stand first in the league"

similar: be, grade, place, rank, rate

related: seed, count, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartmentalize, group, separate, set, sort, install, instate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Treat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Treat:

Slang: gas

Archaic: cate

act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, use, address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, manage, maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, advise, confab, confabulate, confer, consult, counsel, parley, doctor, do by, come to grips with, have a grip on, delectation, delight, feast, joy, kick, manna, pleasure, bit, dainty, delectable

Related Words for Treat

consider, esteem, rate, reckon, regard, view, engage (with), react (to), respond (to), engineer, finesse, jockey, bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull, command, direct, guide, steer, control, micromanage, regulate, run, argue, bandy, bat (around), chew over, debate

Near Antonyms of Treat

botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

Word Forms of Treat

Inflections: treated, treating, treats

Derived words: treater (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Treat

Middle English treten, from Anglo-French treter, traiter, traitier, from Latin tractare to drag about, handle, deal with, frequentative of trahere to drag, pull

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Treat

CEFR level: A2 English Vocabulary — Page 19
Topics: Body & Health, Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Treat

treat (someone) like dirt, treat someone like dirt, dutch treat, heat-treat, ill-treat, stand treat, trick or treat

Frequently Asked Questions about Treat

What does "Treat" mean?

"Treat" means to deal with in speech or writing, expound. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to deal with in speech or writing, expound. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Treat"?

Other words for "Treat" include act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, use, address and contend (with). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Treat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Treat"?

There are 122 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Treat". Common alternatives include act (toward), be (to), deal (with), handle, serve, use, address, contend (with), cope (with) and field.

How do you use "Treat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Treat" in a sentence: "she tries to treat all of her students fairly and equally, regardless of her personal feelings toward them"; "school officials treated the vandalism of the students' artwork as a very serious matter"; "I will treat with my lawyer and let you know what we decide".

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

"Treat" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Treat" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Treat" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Treat"?

"Treat" is pronounced /ˈtrēt/.

What is the origin of the word "Treat"?

"Treat" comes from Middle English treten, from Anglo-French treter, traiter, traitier, from Latin tractare to drag about, handle, deal with, frequentative of trahere to drag, pull. First known use: 14th centuryi.