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breakfast

American  
[brek-fuhst] / ˈbrɛk fəst /

noun

  1. the first meal of the day; morning meal.

    A hearty breakfast was served at 7 a.m.

  2. the food eaten at the first meal of the day.

    a breakfast of bacon and eggs.

verb (used without object)

  1. to eat breakfast.

    He breakfasted on bacon and eggs.

verb (used with object)

  1. to supply with breakfast.

    We breakfasted the author in the finest restaurant.
breakfast British  
/ ˈbrɛkfəst /

noun

    1. the first meal of the day

    2. ( as modifier )

      breakfast cereal

      a breakfast room

  2. the food at this meal

  3. (in the Caribbean) a midday meal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to eat or supply with breakfast

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • breakfaster noun
  • breakfastless adjective
  • postbreakfast adjective

Etymology

Origin of breakfast

First recorded in 1425–75, breakfast is from the late Middle English word brekfast. See break, fast 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

TMZ, which has been hunting politicians during the congressional recess, spotted Graham eating a resort breakfast, walking around with a bubble wand, and getting on Space Mountain.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Mills's last Radio 2 breakfast show appearance was on Tuesday 24 March, when he signed off by saying: "Back tomorrow."

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

She's hosted breakfast shows before - between 2000 and 2003 she was the host of Radio 1's breakfast show and since 2012 has been one of the stand-in presenters for Radio 2's show.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

It doubles as an elevated breakfast or a perfect dessert.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Imani called in sick today, so I’m covering the breakfast rush at the OldMill instead of working my usual shift at the marina.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.