1 B1 neutral
Of an animal: to regularly eat a particular type of food.
"Blue whales feed on tiny crustaceans called krill, consuming several tonnes a day."
inseparable
feed on
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To eat a particular thing as a regular food source, or to draw sustenance and growth from something.
In plain English
To eat something regularly, or to get stronger from something.
What does "feed on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
Of an emotion, belief, or movement: to grow stronger by drawing from something.
"Extremism feeds on poverty and social exclusion."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To take one's food from a particular source — the preposition 'on' indicates the object being consumed.
Actually means
To eat something regularly, or to get stronger from something.
Usage tip
Common in biology and ecology for describing animal diets. Also used figuratively for habits, emotions, or beliefs that sustain or strengthen something. Standard and widely used.
Words that pair with "feed on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
insects plants fear hope plankton seeds
How to conjugate "feed on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
feed on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
feeds on
he/she/it
Past simple
feeded on
yesterday
Past participle
feeded on
have + pp
-ing form
feeding on
continuous
Hear "feed on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "feed on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "feed on"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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