feed on

verb

Of an animal, to take as food, to obtain regular nourishment.

“Animals that feed on the leaves of the trees.”

Similar
feed upon
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Meanings

verbfeed on (third-person singular simple present feeds on, present participle feeding on, simple past and past participle fed on)

present singular third person feeds on · participle present feeding on · participle past fed on · past fed on

  1. literallybiologyOf an animal, to take as food, to obtain regular nourishment.

    Animals that feed on the leaves of the trees.

  2. figurativelyTo obtain energy or strength from something.
  3. derogatoryfigurativelyTo live at the expense of another person; to freeload.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbbe sustained by

Similar
feed upon
Broader
fitconform tomeet

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

feed on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/feed%20on

MLA

“feed on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/feed%20on. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “feed on,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/feed%20on.

Source: feed on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.