ate

ate · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    Past tense of "eat"; consumed food.

  2. 2.

    (Figurative) Consumed or used up.

  3. 3.

    (Slang) Performed exceptionally well.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    ate one's words — had to retract a statement
  • •
    ate crow — was forced to admit being wrong

Related words

Antonyms: fasted, starved
See also: eat, eaten, eating
Synonyms: consumed, devoured, ingested

Etymology

From Old English et, past tense of etan ("to eat"), from Proto-Germanic etanan.