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.

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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

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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

Example Sentences

Before you get to the park, my colleague Amy King suggests stopping by Breakaway Cafe for yummy breakfast burritos or Menotti’s for coffee.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

He moved to the site with this wife and two children in 2007 and runs the main family home as a bed and breakfast.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

He doesn’t have much wiggle room on gas prices, so he focuses on keeping breakfast and lunch affordable and “providing value” for customers under pressure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

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

Her and Tansy bustled by lamplight in the kitchen because there was a world of sausage and scrapple to be made, and breakfast, and a noon dinner for the multitude.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• brunch