ingest

verb

in·​gest in-ˈjest How to pronounce ingest (audio)
ingested; ingesting; ingests

transitive verb

: to take in for or as if for digestion
ingestible adjective
ingestive adjective

Examples of ingest in a Sentence

The drug is more easily ingested in pill form. claims that the average person ingests considerably more calories than is necessary or desirable
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.
Several warned against zinc oxide, which can be toxic to animals if ingested in large quantities; others felt that zinc oxide was worth the risk, unless administered to a tongue-bathing cat. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 July 2025 Poison hemlock, a highly toxic plant that can cause symptoms including vomiting, seizures and respiratory failure if ingested. Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025 In 19th-century Britain, the more fashionable way to ingest opium was to drink it in the form of laudanum. Sam Kelly, Time, 8 July 2025 The jury is still out on whether collagen is as effective when applied topically (versus ingested via the best collagen supplements), so this product looks to other potent ingredients to combat visible signs of collagen decline. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingest

Word History

Etymology

Latin ingestus, past participle of ingerere to carry in, from in- + gerere to bear

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingest was in 1620

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ingest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingest. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

ingest

verb
in·​gest in-ˈjest How to pronounce ingest (audio)
: to take in for or as if for digestion
ingestion noun

Medical Definition

ingest

transitive verb
in·​gest in-ˈjest How to pronounce ingest (audio)
: to take in for or as if for digestion

More from Merriam-Webster on ingest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!