devour

verb

de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce devour (audio)
dē-
devoured; devouring; devours
Synonyms of devour

transitive verb

1
: to eat up greedily or ravenously
devoured the turkey and mashed potatoes
2
: to use up or destroy as if by eating
We are devouring the world's resources.
3
: to prey upon
devoured by guilt
4
: to enjoy avidly
devours books
devourer noun

Synonyms of devour

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Examples of devour in a Sentence

He devoured everything on his plate. The lions devoured their prey. She devoured every golf magazine she could find. He watched intently, devouring the scene before him with his eyes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then there are rabbitfish that can devour algae from the sea bottom, destroying the habitat for many indigenous species. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 The youthfulness behind the order was balanced by his commitment to fitness and his role as a professional hockey player that kept him from devouring it all. — Scott Powers, New York Times, 30 July 2026 There’s a gluttonous amount of food content out there waiting to be devoured, but none of it is like Emeril Live. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026 The swarms of flies that roamed the planet like a devouring fog enclosed the top of the tower, building new, shivering walls, buzzing in a frenzy of life and hunger. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for devour

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French devour-, stem of devorer, from Latin devorare, from de- + vorare to devour — more at voracious

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of devour was in the 14th century

Rhymes for devour

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Browse Nearby Words

De Voto
devour
devourer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Devour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devour. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

devour

verb
de·​vour di-ˈvau̇(ə)r How to pronounce devour (audio)
1
: to eat up greedily or hungrily
devoured everything on his plate
2
: to use up or destroy as if by eating
fire devoured the barn
3
: to enjoy eagerly
devour a book

More from Merriam-Webster on devour

Nglish: Translation of devour for Spanish Speakers

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