cater

verb

ca·​ter ˈkā-tər How to pronounce cater (audio)
catered; catering; caters
Synonyms of cater

intransitive verb

1
: to provide a supply of food
cater for a large party
2
: to supply what is required or desired
catering to middle-class tastes

transitive verb

: to provide food and service for
catered the banquet
caterer
ˈkā-tər-ər How to pronounce cater (audio)
noun

Synonyms of cater

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Examples of cater in a Sentence

The restaurant caters for parties. A local restaurant catered the banquet. The awards ceremony will be a catered event.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Giants catered to their LGBTQ fans and pandered their tails off. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026 Chandeliers lit up the inside of the venue, while one of Swift's favorite restaurants, Sartiano’s, catered. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 July 2026 Teenagers are also leading and conducting a research project this summer focusing on how existing third spaces already cater — or don’t cater — to youths. — Diamy Wang, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026 Road trippers will find public EV charging points in key market towns or at more than 50 self-catering cottages offering on-site charging. — Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cater

Word History

Etymology

obsolete cater buyer of provisions, from Middle English catour, short for acatour, from Anglo-French, from acater to buy — more at cate

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cater was in 1580

Phrases Containing cater

Rhymes for cater

See All Rhymes for cater

Browse Nearby Words

catenative
cater
cateran
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cater. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cater

verb
ca·​ter ˈkāt-ər How to pronounce cater (audio)
1
: to provide a supply of food
cater for parties
2
: to supply what is wanted or needed
caterer
-ər-ər How to pronounce cater (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cater

Nglish: Translation of cater for Spanish Speakers

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