breakfast
Americannoun
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the first meal of the day; morning meal.
A hearty breakfast was served at 7 a.m.
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the food eaten at the first meal of the day.
a breakfast of bacon and eggs.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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the first meal of the day
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( as modifier )
breakfast cereal
a breakfast room
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the food at this meal
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(in the Caribbean) a midday meal
verb
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.
The junior Kellogg later applied that to corn—and changed breakfast forever.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 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
Mills, who took over the breakfast show on Radio 2 from Zoe Ball in January 2025, has worked for the BBC for more than 25 years.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
It doubles as an elevated breakfast or a perfect dessert.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
Mama was fixing breakfast and Daisy was setting the table.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
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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.