feeding

1 of 2

noun

feed·​ing ˈfē-diŋ How to pronounce feeding (audio)
Synonyms of feedingnext
1
: the act or process of eating or being fed
For a while zoos tried to control feeding by providing vending machines with pellets, but most have now banned it entirely.—Phillip T. Robinson
—often used before another noun
a feeding schedule
feeding behavior
2
: an instance of feeding
two a.m. feedings
ready for a feeding

feeding

2 of 2

present participle of feed entry 1

Examples of feeding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The companies’ interest in the Monarch data center shows how the feeding frenzy for compute has reached a new pitch as AI companies look to nail down capacity amid the AI buildout. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The family lived above the stables, where Eric’s father and mother took care of the horses day and night, feeding, watering and cleaning up after them. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Brittany Nicole Sponenberg’s son has been in a neonatal intensive care unit in Danville, Pennsylvania, for almost two months while his underdeveloped lungs and gut grew strong enough to handle regular breathing and feeding. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Rather than forcing every pup into the same feeding routine, The Pets Table recognizes that different dogs have different needs, preferences, and sensitivities. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for feeding

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of feeding was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing feeding

Rhymes for feeding

See All Rhymes for feeding

Browse Nearby Words

feed-in
feeding
feeding board
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Feeding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feeding. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on feeding

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for feeding

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All