DictionaryAI

breakfast

BRAYK-fast/ˈbɹeɪkˌfæst/BRAYK-fahst/ˈbreɪkˌfɑːst/

Pluralbreakfasts

Verbbreakfasts, breakfasting, breakfasted

5 meanings of breakfast

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The first meal of the day, or a meal of morning foods like eggs and toast.

    Like filling up your tank in the morning so you have energy for the day.

    I never skip breakfast before a long day at school.

    We sat down to breakfast just as the sun rose.

    UsageSay have breakfast and for breakfast. With a describing word, say a good breakfast.

    Note
  2. 2
    eat morning mealverbintransitive
    To eat your first meal of the day.

    We usually breakfast on the porch when the weather is warm.

    They breakfasted early before setting off on the hike.

    UsagePeople usually say have breakfast. Use on for the food: breakfast on toast.

    Note
  3. 3
    wedding mealnouncountable
    A special meal shared by guests just after a wedding.

    After the ceremony, guests moved to the hall for a long, joyful breakfast.

    The guests went straight from the church to the wedding breakfast.

    UsageUsually said as wedding breakfast.

    Similarreception

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    after fastingnouncountable
    The meal you eat after going without food, often for religious reasons.
    The wolves will get a breakfast by my death.
    1684, John Dryden, “Amaryllis”
    Note
  2. 5
    verbrare
    To give someone their morning meal.
    By seven-thirty she had breakfasted them, provided each with a packed lunch and Thermoses of coffee and tea
    1987, Anne McCaffrey, The Lady: A Tale of Ireland

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of breakfast apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English, made from "break" plus "fast", literally to end the night's fast (the time without food).

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts