1 B2 idiomatic neutral
To gradually use up or reduce an amount of money, time, or other resource.
"The unexpected repairs ate into our holiday budget, so we had to choose a cheaper destination."
inseparable
eat into
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
To gradually use up or reduce a resource, such as time, money, or profit.
In plain English
To take away a part of something important, like your money or your time.
What does "eat into" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To corrode or physically penetrate a surface gradually.
"The acid quickly ate into the metal surface, leaving deep pockmarks."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To eat (bite) into something — like biting a chunk out of an apple.
Actually means
To take away a part of something important, like your money or your time.
Usage tip
Very common in financial, business, and time-management contexts. The object is always the resource being reduced. Used naturally in both formal writing and everyday speech. Example: 'The extra meetings are eating into my writing time.'
Words that pair with "eat into"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
savings profits time budget margin reserves
How to conjugate "eat into"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
eat into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
eats into
he/she/it
Past simple
ate into
yesterday
Past participle
eaten into
have + pp
-ing form
eating into
continuous
Hear "eat into" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "eat into" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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