bite
16 synonyms for bite, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something.
“The puppy loves to bite on old shoes.”
How to use bite
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bite the bullet
bite off more than you can chew
the cold bites
Etymology
From Old English bītan, from a very old Germanic root meaning "to split" — the same root that eventually gave us the word "bit".
Full origin of bite →Frequently asked questions
What does “bite” mean?
The word “bite” means to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something. In plain terms, to clamp down with the teeth, or (figuratively) for something negative to start taking effect.
How do you pronounce “bite”?
“Bite” is pronounced byt (/baɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bite” in a sentence?
Here is “bite” used in a sentence: “The puppy loves to bite on old shoes.”
What part of speech is “bite”?
Depending on how it is used, “bite” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bite” come from?
The word “bite” comes from Old English. From Old English bītan, from a very old Germanic root meaning "to split" — the same root that eventually gave us the word "bit".
Is “bite” a common word?
“Bite” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “bite” have?
“Bite” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something.
What is the past tense of bite?
Bite is an irregular verb: the simple past tense is "bit" and the past participle is "bitten." So you would say the dog bit him yesterday, but he has been bitten before.
What is the difference between bite and chew?
Bite means to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something in a single action. Chew means to keep grinding food with the teeth over and over, so you bite off a piece first and then chew it.
When does bite mean to have a harmful effect rather than to use the teeth?
Bite can describe something that has an unpleasant or harmful effect, often after a delay, as in "the tax rises will start to bite next year." This figurative sense keeps the idea of a sharp, painful impact without involving actual teeth.
