What does devour mean?
Devour is a vivid verb describing the act of eating quickly, hungrily, or greedily — often consuming something entirely. It carries strong connotations of appetite and urgency, whether applied to a wolf tearing into prey or a child demolishing a plate of cookies. Beyond its literal sense, devour extends powerfully into figurative territory: flames can devour a building, anxiety can devour someone's thoughts, and an avid reader might devour an entire novel overnight. This metaphorical flexibility makes it especially useful in descriptive writing, where it conveys intensity and totality that plainer verbs like "eat" or "consume" lack. Derived from Latin vorare, meaning "to swallow," it shares roots with words like "voracious" and "carnivore." Whether describing physical hunger or intellectual curiosity, devour suggests an eager, almost unstoppable taking-in — a word that adds drama and energy wherever appetite, literal or otherwise, is at play.
verbTo eat food quickly and greedily, often completely consuming it. More broadly, to destroy, consume, or engulf something entirely.
- To eat something quickly and hungrily; to eat up greedily.
- To consume or destroy completely, as by fire or another force.
- To take in eagerly with the eyes or mind — to read, watch, or absorb something with intense interest.
"The children devoured the birthday cake in minutes."
"The hungry travelers devoured every last crumb of the feast."
"She devoured the entire novel in a single sitting, unable to put it down."
From Latin vorare, "to swallow," the same root that gives us "voracious" and even "carnivore" — devour literally means to swallow whole.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of devour
Devour comes from Old French devorer, formed from de- (an intensifying prefix) plus vorer, from Latin vorare, meaning "to swallow or devour." The same Latin root gives English "voracious," "carnivore," and "herbivore," all built on the idea of eating or swallowing. The word entered Middle English around the 14th century and has retained its core sense of greedy or complete consumption ever since.
Related word forms
How devour is actually used
Commonly used both literally for eating and figuratively for consuming information, books, or media with enthusiasm. The figurative sense often carries a positive connotation of eagerness rather than gluttony. Slightly more vivid and expressive than neutral alternatives like "eat" or "read."
Easily confused with devour
"Devour" means to eat or consume greedily, while "devoir" is a rare noun meaning a duty or obligation.