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 or for ):

   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)

   cater to your tastes

   to cater for a need

2. whenintr, foll by for to provide food, services, etc (for)

   to cater a banquet

   we cater for parties

Other Words From

• cater·ing·ly adverb
• un·catered adjective
• un·cater·ing 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

Mellaart decided that a male-dominated society would never produce female figures like the ones he’d found because they didn’t cater to “male impulse and desire.”

From Popular-Science

Industry Dive is designing its new space to cater to a combination of in-office and remote work, Hargreaves said, investing in more screens and spaces that can support virtual meetings.

From Digiday

So, at seven months pregnant, she decided to take things into her own hands and create her own maternity and postpartum clothing brand, catering to expecting and new moms at all stages.

From Fortune

Don’t ignore a game just because it’s linked to a company you’ve never heard of The amount of top-notch indie games catering to anyone and everyone is my favorite thing about modern gaming.

From Popular-Science

You have all these people catering to your needs, taking care of you.

From Washington Post

And you can expect designers and retailers to cater to them too.

From The Daily Beast

Several events specifically cater to kids, making this a fun excursion for the whole family.

From The Daily Beast

As you might guess, Newt is decidedly one of the people to which these agencies cater.

From The Daily Beast

Department stores opened to cater to an increasingly powerful middle class that no longer felt shy about displaying its wealth.

From The Daily Beast

American field kitchens arrived with everything to cater to the raw hunger of battle, including ice cream machines.

From The Daily Beast

Whenever a business assumes certain proportions, subsidiary businesses spring up to cater to the needs of the larger enterprise.

From Project Gutenberg

I reckon I know your tastes so that I can cater for you and—is there any limit to what we may order?

From Project Gutenberg

But the visitor in quest of silver work, jewellery, or embroidery will find there many shopkeepers ready to cater for his wants.

From Project Gutenberg

"While we have many music-lovers in America, it is nevertheless a difficult matter to cater to our public," Max replied.

From Project Gutenberg

They appeal and cater remarkably to my vanity—and are pleasant and unreal and vain and fatuous and fond and piquant.

From Project Gutenberg