Cool MateDevour vs Eat
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Devour
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Eat
High-frequency chunkA1verb
Most common: Eat
| Devour | Eat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈvaʊə//🇺🇸 //dɪˈvaʊɚ// | 🇬🇧 /["/iːt/","/iːts/","/et//eɪt/","/ˈiːtn/","/ˈiːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/iːt/","/iːts/","/eɪt/","/ˈiːtn/","/ˈiːtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To eat something very eagerly or quickly. | to put food in your mouth and swallow it |
| Example | The children devoured the delicious pizza within minutes. | I like to eat pizza on Fridays. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | devour a book, devour a meal, devour food, devour with delight | well, a lot, enough, find something to, get (yourself) something to, grab something to, a bite to eat, eat and drink, eat like a horse, well, a lot, enough, find something to, get (yourself) something to, grab something to, a bite to eat, eat and drink, eat like a horse |
| Antonyms | fast, nibble, snack | fast, abstain, diet |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'devote', which means to dedicate something., Using 'devour' with inanimate objects mistakenly., Overusing it instead of simpler words like 'eat' for casual contexts. | Using 'eaten' instead of 'eat' in present tense contexts., Confusing 'eat' with 'feed', which refers to providing food to someone else., Incorrectly using 'eating' without an object when it should be a complete action. |
| Usage notes | Use 'devour' when describing the act of eating with great enthusiasm or speed. It is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as in literature or when discussing a passion for books. | Use 'eat' for all types of meals. It's appropriate in most contexts, but can feel too casual for very formal dining situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Devour vs Eat
What's the difference between Devour and Eat?
Devour: To eat something very eagerly or quickly. Eat: to put food in your mouth and swallow it
Which is more common: Devour and Eat?
Eat is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Devour and Eat?
Devour is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Devour and Eat the same CEFR level?
Devour: C1, Eat: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Devour and Eat?
Devour: verb, Eat: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Devour: The children devoured the delicious pizza within minutes. Eat: I like to eat pizza on Fridays.
Can I use Devour and Eat interchangeably?
Not always. Devour and Eat are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.