cater

American  

[key-ter] / ˈkeɪ tər /

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

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide food and service for.

   to cater a party.

cater British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• cateringly adverb
• uncatered adjective
• uncatering adjective

Etymology

Origin of cater

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

Example Sentences

While both are top-tier VPNs, they cater to different user needs.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

There's nothing hotter in the world of TV right now than adaptations of popular books, especially those that cater to younger audiences.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

"At the moment, they are producing about half as many SSNs as the American Navy needs, let alone to cater for the American and Australian needs."

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

“You have to learn to cater to what’s developmentally appropriate to each person. You learn about child behavior, child psychology and the formation of the brain and how they learn.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Fred said a good vegetarian place would open soon, now that there was so much new investment in the country; somebody would figure out that there was a vegetarian market to cater to.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie