What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
eat
Example
I like to eat pizza for dinner. [eat: verb]
Example
She is always hungry and loves to eat snacks. [eat: verb]
Example
Eating too fast can cause indigestion. [eating: gerund or present participle]
ingest
Example
The doctor instructed him to ingest the medication with water. [ingest: verb]
Example
The body needs to ingest vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. [ingest: verb]
Example
He accidentally ingested a small piece of plastic while eating. [ingested: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Eat is more common than ingest in everyday language, as it is a versatile and widely used verb. Ingest is more commonly used in scientific or medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between eat and ingest?
Ingest is more formal than eat, as it is often used in scientific or medical contexts. Eat is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
