What does ingest mean?
Ingest means to take something into a system or into oneself. Literally, it refers to consuming food or other substances, although the verb is often more formal than the ordinary word “eat.” In contemporary usage, “ingest” frequently describes receiving, absorbing, or processing information, documents, media, or data, especially in business, technology, and communication contexts. Saying that a system “ingests data” means that it takes data from outside sources and brings it into its processing framework. The verb can also be used figuratively for a person taking in a large quantity of content, often with a slightly critical or humorous tone. Its Latin origin means “to carry in,” which captures both its literal action and its modern applications: receiving material and bringing it into a larger system.
To take in food, liquid, or another substance, especially into the body; to receive and process information, material, or data.
"The scanner can ingest thousands of pages in an hour."
The technical and figurative senses are standard in formal and specialized contexts.
The act or process of taking in or processing material, information, or data.
"The system is designed for efficient data ingest."
This noun is most often used in technical, business, or media contexts.
The plural is used for separate instances of receiving or processing material, information, or data.
"The platform handles daily ingests from several external sources."
From the Latin for “to carry in,” ingest went from taking in food to taking in anything—from nutrients to news and raw data.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ingest come from?
The English word comes from Latin ingestus, the past participle of ingere, meaning “to carry in” or “to bring in.” The Latin verb combines in-, “into,” with gerere, “to carry” or “to bring.” English borrowed the word in the 16th century for taking food or substances into the body; its modern sense of receiving and processing information developed later, especially in technological and organizational language.
Related word forms
How ingest is actually used
In its literal sense, “ingest” is formal and somewhat clinical compared with “eat.” Its use for receiving or processing information and data is common in technical, organizational, and media contexts.
Easily confused with ingest
To ingest is to take something in, whereas to digest is to process it, often breaking it down into simpler components that the body can absorb or use.
Ingest is normally a verb meaning to take in material or information; institute is a noun or verb meaning an established organization, or to establish or begin something.