intake

American  

[in-teyk] / ˈɪnˌteɪk /

noun

• intakes
  plural

1. the place or opening at which a fluid is taken into a channel, pipe, etc.

2. an act or instance of taking in.

   an intake of oxygen.

3. something that is taken in.

4. a quantity taken in.

   an intake of 50 gallons a minute.

5. a narrowing; contraction.

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intake British  

/ ˈɪnˌteɪk /

noun

1. a thing or a quantity taken in

   an intake of students

2. the act of taking in

3. the opening through which fluid enters a duct or channel, esp the air inlet of a jet engine

4. a ventilation shaft in a mine

5. a contraction or narrowing

   an intake in a garment

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• intakes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of intake

First recorded in 1515–25; noun use of verb phrase take in

Explanation

The act of consuming food can be called intake. A veterinarian might advise you to limit your dog's intake of pizza crusts, for example. While the process of eating can be called your intake, unless you're a militant dieter who weighs every ounce of food you consume, you're most likely to hear the word intake in a hospital or doctor's office. Caregivers might be concerned about a patient's intake of calories if he's very sick, or a dietitian might recommend an elderly woman increase her intake of calcium.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intake intakes

Yale researchers have previously shown that people who followed moderate calorie restriction, cutting calorie intake by 14% for two years, developed stronger immune defenses without experiencing problems related to growth or reproduction.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

Because GLP-1 drugs reduce appetite and food intake, they may also contribute to nutritional deficiencies and loss of muscle, potentially increasing the risk of frailty and other long-term health issues.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

In the 1970s, cardiologist Robert C. Atkins developed the Atkins diet, which limits carbohydrates while increasing protein and fat intake.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

More and more, diners are leaning into “proteinmaxxing,” the viral health trend that promotes increased protein intake with the goal of boosting metabolism, decreasing appetite and increasing muscle mass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Jon heard Samwell Tarly's sharp intake of breath.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

At accounting firm Grant Thornton, just 10% of U.K. trainee intakes were apprentices in 2010.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Ceri Roberts, the council's Welsh-medium education transformation officer, said Welsh-medium primary school intakes in the county borough were rising and a number of schools had won awards in Welsh education.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026

People who had higher intakes of beta-carotene as a food coloring had a 44% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, compared with those who had a lower intake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026

In the first two months of this year, 284 dogs were euthanized at city shelters, a 39% increase compared with January and February 2025 despite a 6% decrease in dog intakes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026

I taped up eight of the intakes, leaving only one of them active.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• absorption