cater

[key-ter]

verb (used without object)

1. to provide food, service, etc., as for a party or wedding.

   to cater for a banquet.

2. to provide or supply what amuses, is desired, or gives pleasure, comfort, etc. (usually followed by to orfor ).

   to cater to popular demand; to cater to an invalid.

   Synonyms: please, indulge, humor

verb (used with object)

1. to provide food and service for.

   to cater a party.

cater

/ ˈkeɪtə /

verb

1. (intr; foll by for or to) to provide what is required or desired (for)

   to cater for a need

   cater to your tastes

2. to provide food, services, etc (for)

   we cater for parties

   to cater a banquet

Other Word Forms

• cateringly adverb
• uncatered adjective
• uncatering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; verb use of obsolete cater, Middle English catour, variant of acatour “buyer,” from Anglo-French, from acat(er) “to buy” ( cate ) + -our -or ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater¹

C16: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to _accept

Example Sentences

What’s emerging is a new class of synthetic social media platforms that enable users to create, share and discover AI-generated content in a bespoke feed, catering to an individual’s tastes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At Hackney Foodbank in east London, staff member Farhan Jaisin said he was cautious of giving out donations when asylum seekers started turning up - because they were supposed to be catered for.

Read more on BBC

The Manchester-based organisation Rethink Rebuild, which caters mainly for local Syrians, said they "stand in full solidarity with our Jewish neighbours".

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"In some respects, what the government is doing is they're catering for the needs of the population."

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“The people we cater to at these things are ... everyday people, salt of the earth people.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times