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. 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

---

verb

1. to eat or supply with breakfast

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

Explanation

Breakfast is the first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning. Eating a healthy breakfast may give you a boost of energy to start your day. The word breakfast comes from the idea of "breaking the fast" after a night of sleeping. A fast is a period of not eating. During sleep, the body goes without food for hours, so when you eat breakfast, you stop fasting and start eating again, restoring energy for the day ahead. Breakfast foods vary widely depending on culture and personal preference. Eggs, cereal, toast, pancakes, and fruit are commonly eaten for breakfast in some places. In other places, soup, salad, fish, and rice are preferred.

Example Sentences

The New York bagel has been widely accepted as the gold standard of the classic breakfast food, and New Yorkers proudly believe that the best bagels come from their own backyard.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

The morning after a general election, the result is pretty much complete by breakfast time - but that is not the case in this patchwork of elections around Britain.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

When travelers weren’t dining together at buffet-style meals for breakfast and lunch, they were often gathered for group lectures or exercise classes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Some farmers argue the chemical is necessary but the Soil Association warns that its use as a drying agent leaves residues in foods such as bread, breakfast cereals and beer.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Julia broke a piece off her breakfast bar.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Related Words

• brunch