What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
eating
Example
I am eating breakfast right now. [eating: present participle]
Example
Eating too much junk food can be bad for your health. [eating: gerund]
ingestion
Example
The ingestion of contaminated water can lead to illness. [ingestion: noun]
Example
The doctor studied the effects of drug ingestion on the body. [ingestion: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Eating is a more common word than ingestion in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of contexts and is more versatile in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between eating and ingestion?
Ingestion is a more formal and technical term than eating, and is typically used in medical, scientific, or academic contexts.
