devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r 

dē-

devoured; devouring; devours

transitive verb

1

: to eat up greedily or ravenously

devoured the turkey and mashed potatoes

2

: to use up or destroy as if by eating

We are devouring the world's resources.

3

: to prey upon

devoured by guilt

4

: to enjoy avidly

devours books

devourer noun

Synonyms

• consume
• eat (up)

Examples of devour in a Sentence

He devoured everything on his plate.

The lions devoured their prey.

She devoured every golf magazine she could find.

He watched intently, devouring the scene before him with his eyes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Burton devoured everything from horror films to Ray Harryhausen animations, science fiction B movies and Japanese Kaiju monster films. —Tacita Quinn, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024

Pair the charming size with the combination of pumpkin and cheesecake, and prepare for them to be devoured in minutes. —Jorie Nicole McDonald, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2024

Perhaps my eagerness to devour new experiences (as well as my need for cash) compelled me to join the notorious MIT blackjack teams after seeing a flier on campus. —Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2024

Besides oil, prices also fell for copper and other commodities that a healthy Chinese economy would devour. —Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French devour-, stem of devorer, from Latin devorare, from de- + vorare to devour — more at voracious

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(ə)r 

1

: to eat up greedily or hungrily

devoured everything on his plate

2

: to use up or destroy as if by eating

fire devoured the barn

3

: to enjoy eagerly

devour a book