as it feeds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it feeds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing a process or action that occurs simultaneously with feeding or providing nourishment. Example: "The plant grows rapidly as it feeds on the nutrients in the soil."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

This species is largely widespread in Africa, south of the Sahara, and it is known for its polyvalent behaviour as it feeds on different animals including humans and dogs [8], [15].

Plosone

The TechHaus will collect your data as it feeds through Twitter, & remember its not just about purchases, we will choose creative monsters!

HuffPost

Beginning sales late last year, the Crosstrek is certainly doing its part to uphold that reputation, even as it feeds the brand's broadening appeal.

BBC

As it feeds, the treeshrew defecates, apparently as a method of marking its feeding territory.

Wikipedia

One species pollinates an Alpine flower as it feeds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Artificial intelligence gets smarter as it feeds on more data.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

But the controversy has dogged Clinton's campaign, as it fed a perception that she was not an honest person.

The Guardian

The fire threatened more than 100 buildings as it fed on grassy woodland about 40 miles southwest of Sacramento, said Roger Archey, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The New York Times

The inclusion of photographs of relevant scenes and objects also helped to make the novel more vivid, as it fed my imagination of the events and people described.

The Guardian

In this work, they again used bioreactors to observe the virulence of P. aeruginosa as it fed on both 2,3 butanediol and glucose; the glucose did not cause virulence, while with the 2,3 butanediol, the bacteria became significantly more virulent.

Cornell University

While much of the spilled oil was burned as it fed the explosions and fires, the contamination of the lake, a river and the ground is a prime concern.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it feeds" to denote a continuous or ongoing process of nourishment or input, where the feeding action directly influences the subject's state or behavior. For example, "The river swells as it feeds on melting snow."

Common error

Avoid using "as it feeds" when the intention is to describe something being fed, rather than the act of feeding itself. For instance, instead of saying 'The birdhouse is vulnerable as it feeds birds', rephrase to emphasize the birds being fed, such as 'The birds are vulnerable as they feed at the birdhouse'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it feeds" functions as an adverbial clause of time, indicating that the action of feeding occurs simultaneously with, and influences, the main clause's action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as it feeds" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to describe simultaneous actions where consumption drives a process or outcome. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid and commonly used. It's frequently found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing with "as it feeds", ensure clarity by explicitly stating the subject and object involved in the feeding action. Alternative phrases like "while it consumes" or "as it fuels" can offer nuanced variations, depending on the intended meaning. The consistent use of "as it feeds" across authoritative sources underscores its reliability and effectiveness in conveying linked processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while it consumes

Replaces "feeds" with "consumes", emphasizing the act of taking in or using something up.

while it fuels

Uses "fuels" to imply providing energy or power.

while it nourishes itself

Replaces "feeds" with "nourishes itself", highlighting self-sustenance.

as it sustains itself

Emphasizes the aspect of self-support and maintenance.

as it ingests

Replaces "feeds" with "ingests", focusing on the process of taking something into the body.

while it supplies

Uses "supplies" to indicate a provision of something needed.

as it draws sustenance

Replaces "feeds" with "draws sustenance", emphasizing the act of obtaining nourishment.

as it processes

Shifts the focus from feeding to the broader action of processing information or materials.

as it provides input

Highlights the role of providing data or resources.

as it contributes

Broadens the meaning to any form of input or addition, not just sustenance.

FAQs

How can I use "as it feeds" in a sentence?

Use "as it feeds" to describe a process where something is actively consuming or taking in something else, resulting in a change or continuation of its state. For example, "The fire grows larger "as it feeds" on the dry wood".

What are some alternatives to "as it feeds"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "while it consumes", "as it nourishes itself", or "as it fuels".

Is "as it feeds" formal or informal?

"As it feeds" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding vocabulary and the subject matter.

What does "as it feeds" imply about the action?

"As it feeds" implies a continuous or ongoing action where the process of feeding or consumption is directly related to the subject's current state or behavior. It suggests a dependency or reliance on the substance being consumed.