verb

fatten

FA-tuhn

Fatten (verb) means to make an animal or person fatter, often by feeding them richly. Example: “Farmers fatten the pigs before taking them to market.”

verb

To make an animal or person fatter, often by feeding them richly.

"Farmers fatten the pigs before taking them to market."

To make something bigger or thicker, especially a fund or amount of money.

"The bonus helped fatten his savings account nicely."

How to use fatten

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make (or become) fatter or larger.

Common pairings

fatten up fatten the herd fatten a bank account

Word forms

fattened past tense, fattens singular

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Farmers _____ the pigs before taking them to market.

Etymology

From "fat" plus the verb-forming suffix "-en".

Synonyms

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fat plump fill out flesh out plump out fatten up fatten out

Related words

round exactly oil fat thick elaborate overweight grease

Rhymes for fatten

batten flatten

See all rhymes for fatten →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fatten” mean?

The word “fatten” means to make an animal or person fatter, often by feeding them richly. In plain terms, to make (or become) fatter or larger.

How do you pronounce “fatten”?

“Fatten” is pronounced FA-tuhn (/ˈfætən/ in IPA).

How do you use “fatten” in a sentence?

Here is “fatten” used in a sentence: “Farmers fatten the pigs before taking them to market.”

What part of speech is “fatten”?

“Fatten” is a verb.

How many meanings does “fatten” have?

“Fatten” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make an animal or person fatter, often by feeding them richly.

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