What does breakfast mean?
Breakfast is the first meal of the day, eaten after waking, typically in the morning hours before work or school begins. The noun functions mainly as an uncountable mass noun — people have breakfast, skip breakfast, or make breakfast — though it takes an article when referring to a particular meal or style, as in "a substantial breakfast" or "a continental breakfast." It also serves as a verb meaning simply to eat that meal, as in "they breakfasted early before the flight," a usage that survives today especially in British English and travel writing. Breakfast carries warm, domestic connotations: it evokes routine, hospitality, and comfort foods ranging from porridge and toast to full fried spreads. Culturally it holds a prominent place in phrases like "bed and breakfast" and in debates about whether it truly is "the most important meal of the day."
The first meal of the day, eaten in the morning.
"Breakfast is served between seven and ten o'clock."
Usually uncountable ("have breakfast") unless qualified ("a light breakfast").
To eat breakfast.
"They breakfasted on strong tea and oatcakes before the long drive."
Somewhat formal; commoner in British English and older literary prose.
Used when counting distinct meals or varieties, e.g. menus or schedules.
"The hotel offers three different breakfasts depending on the season."
"Breakfast" literally means breaking the fast you've kept since dinner the night before — a word coined in the 1400s that replaced the Old English "morgenmete," or "morning food."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of breakfast
Breakfast arose in Middle English during the fifteenth century from break + fast, literally meaning to end the overnight fast since the previous evening's meal. Before it took hold, English used the Old French-derived term "disner" (which became dinner) for the morning meal, and earlier still the native compound "morgenmete," or "morning food." The verb sense developed naturally from the noun by conversion. Cognates appear across Germanic languages, such as Danish "morgenmad" and Dutch "ontbijt", which express the same concept with different imagery.
Related word forms
How breakfast is actually used
In everyday speech, breakfast is an uncountable mass noun ("have breakfast") unless a specific instance or variety is meant ("a hearty breakfast"). The verbal use is somewhat formal or dated but still current, especially in British English.
Easily confused with breakfast
Breakfast is the first morning meal; brunch combines late-morning breakfast and lunch, typically eaten later and often on weekends.