devour
7 synonyms for devour, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To eat something quickly and hungrily.
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.
How to use devour
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
devour a book
devour a meal
flames devoured
Etymology
From Old French devorer, from Latin dēvorāre, built from de- (intensifying) and vorāre, "to swallow."
Full origin of devour →Frequently asked questions
What does “devour” mean?
The word “devour” means to eat something quickly and hungrily. In plain terms, to eat, destroy, or take in something eagerly and quickly.
How do you pronounce “devour”?
“Devour” is pronounced dih-VOW-uh (/dɪˈvaʊɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “devour” in a sentence?
Here is “devour” used in a sentence: “The kids devoured the pizza within minutes of it arriving.”
What part of speech is “devour”?
“Devour” is a verb.
Where does the word “devour” come from?
The word “devour” comes from Latin. From Old French devorer, from Latin dēvorāre, built from de- (intensifying) and vorāre, "to swallow.".
Is “devour” a common word?
“Devour” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “devour” have?
“Devour” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to eat something quickly and hungrily.
