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

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

Aref Montazeri, a rising-star artist, had just finished breakfast in his fifth-floor apartment overlooking Tehran when he heard the first crackle of war nearly two months ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

I was tempted to believe that Tulsa was a city run by transplants—but then I had breakfast at Country Bird Bakery in the Pearl District, where a line wraps around the block most mornings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Stephanie may cook breakfast, but Max and Finn are pretty self-sufficient and can make certain little meals for themselves.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

She concluded: "I honestly can't wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

As soon as breakfast was over, Grandpa looked at me and said, “We’d better be on our way. I have a lot of things to do in town.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• brunch