feed
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for feed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To give food to a person or animal.
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 feed
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English fēdan, "to feed," going back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to guard or graze" — related to food and fodder.
Full origin of feed →Frequently asked questions
What does “feed” mean?
The word “feed” means to give food to a person or animal. In plain terms, to give food, or to supply something continuously — including, today, an online stream of posts.
How do you pronounce “feed”?
“Feed” is pronounced FEED (/ˈfiːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “feed” in a sentence?
Here is “feed” used in a sentence: “She feeds the chickens every morning before school.”
What part of speech is “feed”?
Depending on how it is used, “feed” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “feed” come from?
The word “feed” comes from Old English. From Old English fēdan, "to feed," going back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to guard or graze" — related to food and fodder.
Is “feed” a common word?
“Feed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “feed” have?
“Feed” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give food to a person or animal.
What is the difference between feed and eat?
To feed is to give food to someone or something, while to eat is to consume food yourself. A parent feeds a baby, and the baby eats. Feed usually needs an object — the person or animal receiving the food — whereas eat centres on the one doing the consuming.
What are the different meanings of feed?
The core sense is giving food to a person or animal. By extension, feed means to supply something steadily — to feed data into a system, feed a fire with wood, or feed a family by providing for them. Animals themselves also feed, meaning they eat, as with cattle in a field.
What is an example of feed?
You feed a pet by putting out its food, feed a baby with a spoon or bottle, and feed livestock on a farm. Figuratively, you might feed coins into a machine or feed information to a colleague, extending the idea of supplying something to someone or something.
What is the past tense of feed?
The past tense and past participle are both fed, not feeded. You say she fed the dog this morning, or the animals have been fed. The word follows an irregular pattern, changing its vowel rather than adding -ed, much like lead becoming led.