often attributive
1
a
: material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy
also
: such food together with supplementary substances (such as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)
drought victims who don't have enough food to eat
b
: inorganic substances absorbed by plants in gaseous form or in water solution
2
: nutriment in solid form
She gave food and drink to the hungry travelers.
3
: something that nourishes, sustains, or supplies
food for thought
Books were his mental food.
foodlessness
noun
Examples of food in a Sentence
a farmer who grows his own food
drought victims who don't have enough food to eat
She gave food and drink to the hungry travelers.
What is your favorite food?
fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods
Recent Examples on the Web
What will the oil price be on Dec. 31, 2025?
U.S. retail sales (including food) for the month of December 2024 were $730.3 billion.
—
John Dorfman, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Similarly, the recalls did not appear to apply to the agency’s food program, which recently went though a major restructuring to better oversee essential products like infant formula and baby food.
—Matthew Perrone, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
The company also brought generative AI into the supply chain, to help its food safety efforts and to identify risks as early as possible across global supply chains.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
Each hardship and adventure that Lili faces bleeds into the next, with moments of respite and, occasionally, better food.
—Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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John Dorfman, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Similarly, the recalls did not appear to apply to the agency’s food program, which recently went though a major restructuring to better oversee essential products like infant formula and baby food.
—Matthew Perrone, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
The company also brought generative AI into the supply chain, to help its food safety efforts and to identify risks as early as possible across global supply chains.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025
Each hardship and adventure that Lili faces bleeds into the next, with moments of respite and, occasionally, better food.
—Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for food
Cite this Entry
“Food.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/food. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
food
noun1
: material containing or consisting of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins used in the body of an animal to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy
also
: such material together with extra substances (as vitamins and minerals)
2
a
: organic substances taken in by green plants and used to build organic nutrients
b
: organic material produced by green plants and used by them as building material and as a source of energy
3
: nourishment in solid form
4
: something that nourishes, supports, or supplies
food for thought
Medical Definition
food
nounoften attributive
1
: material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy
also
: such material together with supplementary substances (as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)
2
: nutriment in solid form
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