What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
devour
Example
The kids devoured the pizza in minutes. [devoured: past tense]
Example
I love to devour a good book on a lazy Sunday afternoon. [devour: verb]
Example
The fire devoured the entire building in a matter of hours. [devoured: past tense]
swallow
Example
She swallowed the pill with a glass of water. [swallowed: past tense]
Example
I can't just swallow everything my boss tells me without questioning it. [swallow: verb]
Example
He had to swallow his pride and apologize for his mistake. [swallow: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swallow is more commonly used than devour in everyday language, especially in the context of taking food or drink into the body. However, devour is still a common word and is often used in the context of consuming media or information.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between devour and swallow?
Both devour and swallow are relatively informal words, but swallow is slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while devour is more commonly used in informal contexts.
