food

American  

[food] / fud /

noun

foods plural

1. any nourishing substance that is eaten, drunk, or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc.

   Synonyms:

   menu, diet, meat, sustenance, bread, aliment, nutriment

2. more or less solid nourishment, as distinguished from liquids.

3. a particular kind of solid nourishment.

   a breakfast food; dog food.

4. whatever supplies nourishment to organisms.

   plant food.

5. anything serving for consumption or use.

   food for thought.

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food British  

/ fuːd /

noun

1. any substance containing nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, that can be ingested by a living organism and metabolized into energy and body tissue

2. nourishment in more or less solid form as opposed to liquid form

   food and drink

3. anything that provides mental nourishment or stimulus

   food for thought

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Synonym Usage

Food, fare, provisions, ration(s) all refer to nutriment. Food is the general word: Breakfast foods have become very popular. Many animals prefer grass as food. Fare refers to the whole range of foods that may nourish a person or animal: an extensive bill of fare; The fare of some animals is limited in range. Provisions is applied to a store or stock of necessary things, especially food, prepared beforehand: provisions for a journey. Ration implies an allotment or allowance of provisions: a daily ration for each man of a company. Rations often means food in general: to be on short rations.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• foodlessness
  noun
• nonfood
  noun
• foodless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• foods
  plural

Etymology

Origin of food

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fode, Old English fōda; compare Old English fēdan, Gothic fōdjan feed; cf. fodder ( def. ), foster

Explanation

Food is anything that you can eat and digest. Your body needs food to grow and live. Some people love pizza, others love Thai food, and many can't get enough fruits and vegetables. Everything served at a restaurant is some kind of food — you eat it, digest it, and poop it out. Just because you can chew and swallow something doesn't make it food — try eating a crayon. To be food, it has to have nutritional value. Along with water and shelter, food is something you need to survive.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

food foods

In the fourth quarter, sales in the grocery and snacks category rose 0.3%, while refrigerated and frozen food revenue increased 5.3%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

One nonprofit in Dallas reported that demand for food assistance is now higher than it was in 2008 during the financial crisis or in 2020 during the pandemic.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

Changes in movement can also affect how much energy an animal uses and whether it can reach food, shelter, or other important resources.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

They’re the stench of smoke and soot and chlorine, and of burning, rotting, rat-besieged food.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Then a food truck rambles onto the grounds and dazed-looking teens hop out in bell-bottoms; tie-dye shirts; long, flowing dresses; and fringed ponchos.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

“But until this mystery is solved, it is best to avoid these foods altogether.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Rivelino Rodriguez, chef lecturer at The Guernsey Institute, said the project was designed to give parents "inspiration for cheap adaptable meals that taste good without all the additives and preservatives found in ready-made foods".

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

The researchers did not directly measure pesticide levels in individual foods eaten by participants.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026

Cyclospora is spread when people consume foods or drink water that are contaminated with feces.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

He hated when his foods touched each other.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• bread
• cooking
• cuisine
• drink
• fare
• feed
• foodstuff
• meal
• meat
• snack