1 C1 neutral
To reduce a surplus or stockpile of food by consuming it before buying more.
"We need to eat down the freezer before we go on holiday so nothing gets wasted."
separable
eat down
C1 neutral separable transitive
To reduce a supply of food or resources by consuming it gradually.
In plain English
To eat enough of something stored so that there is less of it left.
What does "eat down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To eat something downward — reducing a pile or stock from the top down.
Actually means
To eat enough of something stored so that there is less of it left.
Usage tip
Relatively uncommon and often used in practical domestic or provisioning contexts — for example, eating down a stockpile of food before restocking. More commonly heard in British English. Not an everyday phrasal verb.
Words that pair with "eat down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stockpile supplies reserves leftovers pantry inventory
How to conjugate "eat down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
eat down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
eats down
he/she/it
Past simple
ate down
yesterday
Past participle
eaten down
have + pp
-ing form
eating down
continuous
Hear "eat down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "eat down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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