treat

1 of 2

verb

treated; treating; treats

transitive verb

1
a
: to deal with in speech or writing : expound
b
: to present or represent artistically
c
: to deal with : handle
food is plentiful and treated with imaginationCecil Beaton
2
a
: to bear oneself toward : use
treat a horse cruelly
b
: to regard and deal with in a specified manner
usually used with as
treat the matter as confidential
3
a
: to provide with free food, drink, or entertainment
they treated us to lunch
b
: to provide with enjoyment or gratification
4
: to care for or deal with medically or surgically
treat a disease
5
: to act upon with some agent especially to improve or alter
treat a metal with acid

intransitive verb

1
: to pay another's expenses (as for a meal or drink) especially as a compliment or as an expression of regard or friendship
2
: to discuss terms of accommodation or settlement : negotiate
3
: to deal with a matter especially in writing : discourse
usually used with of
a book treating of conservation
treater noun

treat

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: the act of providing another with free food, drink, or entertainment
dinner will be my treat
b
: an entertainment given without expense to those invited
2
: an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement
seeing her again was a treat

Examples of treat in a Sentence

Verb The author treats this issue in the next chapter. This situation must be treated with great care. I try to treat everyone equally. She treats the horse cruelly. They treated me like a member of their family. I was treated like a queen. My parents still treat me like a child. Try to treat everyone as an equal. Young people should always treat their elders with respect. Let's go out to dinner. I'll treat. Noun We took the kids to the water park as a special treat. cookies and other tasty treats She rewarded the dog with a treat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Hemme was being treated with heavy doses of antipsychotic drugs when she was first questioned about the 1980 murder of 31-year-old library worker Patricia Jeschke in St. Joseph. CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024 Below are seven easy simple tips to treat the dry skin on your face. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
Launched in 2000, the sweet treat surrounds apple pieces and a creamy caramel filling with a golden-brown crispy exterior. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024 Oskar Scheller/Stockholm Business Region Fika is a Swedish tradition to take a break from your day to enjoy a warm drink and sweet treat with friends. Madeline Weinfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for treat 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'treat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of treat was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near treat

Cite this Entry

“Treat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treat. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

treat

1 of 2 verb
1
: to discuss terms of agreement with : negotiate
treat with the enemy
2
a
: to have as a subject especially in writing
a book treating of crime
b
: to deal with : handle
roses must be treated with care
3
a
: to pay for another's food or entertainment
I'm treating tonight
b
: to provide with free food, entertainment, or enjoyment
let me treat you with lunch
4
: to handle, use, or act toward in a usually stated way
treat a horse cruelly
treat this as top secret
5
: to give medical or surgical care to
treat a patient
treat a cold
6
: to subject to some action or process to bring about a desired result
treat a metal with acid

treat

2 of 2 noun
1
: an entertainment given without expense to those invited
2
: a usually unexpected or unusual source of pleasure or amusement

Medical Definition

treat

transitive verb
: to care for or deal with medically or surgically : deal with by medical or surgical means
treated their diseases
treats a patient

More from Merriam-Webster on treat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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