bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "bread" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to a type of food made from flour, water, and yeast, baked in an oven. For example: "This morning I had a slice of toast with butter and jam for breakfast, made from freshly-baked bread."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mapusa This town has a daily market full of fruit, veg, fish, bread, flowers, spices, clothes, street food and home goods.

The Guardian - Travel

ottos-restaurant.com BG Borough Market's Bread Ahead is the first stop on any London doughnut pilgrimage; unsurprising as Justin Gellatly is the man behind the bakery's pillow-like creations.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Breakfast of homemade yogurt, bread and jam is served on the roof terrace.

The Guardian - Travel

"He had an absolute focus on bread and butter issues, and because of that was able to focus on visionary things, like building the Royal theatre, or fixing up the historic buildings at Macquarie street, saving the rainforests, introducing anti-discrimination laws, but above all I think saving the rainforest," Carr said.

The Guardian

The pintxos – most of which involve a bread base plus topping – are lined up on the bar so diners can take a look, give their selection to the staff, and wait for their chosen titbits to arrive.

The Guardian - Travel

Then ate a hotel breakfast – carrot juice, omelette, lentils, salad, salmon – with no bread, no croissant; my new resolve on diet.

The Guardian

Some years ago I was auditioned by the BBC to take over the part of Joey in the hit sitcom Bread.

The Guardian

A. Baker is the largest and most popular of the lot – it's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and, as the name suggests, bakes its own bread and pastries.

The Guardian - Travel

John Tradnor "There's a great farmers' market in Wye, with bread, cakes, jams, organic meats, fresh fish and locally made cheeses.

The Guardian - Money

There was comedy, music, dancing, fresh hog, pints for a pound, broth and bread and more hog.

The Guardian

I could, to be honest, have added more, but the plan was always to use the ice cream to spread on bread and eat with a slice of ham, so I used just enough to balance the sourness and to give a backnote of honey.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "bread" as a staple food, consider the cultural context. Different cultures have unique types of bread that are central to their cuisine. Specify the type of bread (e.g. sourdough, rye, naan) when relevant to add precision and cultural understanding to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "bread" literally when you mean it figuratively (e.g. "bread and butter issues"). Ensure the context clearly indicates the intended meaning, whether it is about basic necessities or slang for money.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bread" is as a noun. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

25%

Travel

20%

Less common in

Sport

5%

Music

5%

Opinion

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "bread" is a common and versatile noun, primarily referring to a staple food but also used metaphorically for necessities or money. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media, Lifestyle, and Travel contexts. While generally neutral in tone, its idiomatic usages like "bread and butter issues" can add informality. When writing, consider the cultural context of "bread" and avoid literal use when a figurative meaning is intended. Alternatives like "loaf of bread", "daily sustenance", and slang terms such as "dough" can provide nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loaf of bread

Specifies a unit of bread, rather than bread in general.

daily sustenance

Refers to the food needed to live, similar to the common usage of "bread" as 'daily bread'.

staff of life

A metaphorical term for bread as a basic and essential food.

food supply

Broader term encompassing all food, but includes bread as a component.

staple food

Refers to a food that is routinely eaten and constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet.

money

Uses "bread" as slang for money or financial resources.

dough

Another slang term for money, like "bread".

sustenance

A more formal term for nourishment or the means of maintaining life.

nourishment

General term for food and drink necessary for health and growth.

basic provisions

Emphasizes the fundamental needs including food, of which bread is a part.

FAQs

How can I use "bread" in a sentence?

You can use "bread" in a sentence to refer to a food made of flour, water, and yeast, like in "I had a sandwich with whole wheat bread for lunch." It can also be used idiomatically to refer to money or basic necessities.

What are some synonyms for "bread" when referring to food?

When referring to "bread" as a food, you can use synonyms like "loaf", "roll", or "toast" depending on the form and context. For example, instead of "a slice of bread", you might say "a piece of "toast"".

When is it appropriate to use "bread" to mean money?

Using "bread" to mean money is informal and considered slang. It is best suited for casual conversations and should be avoided in formal writing. Other slang terms for money include "dough" or "cash".

What does the phrase "bread and butter issues" mean?

The phrase "bread and butter issues" refers to the basic or essential concerns, especially economic ones, that affect people's daily lives. These are the fundamental issues that politicians often focus on to appeal to voters such as jobs, healthcare and education. For example: "The politician focused on "bread and butter issues" during the campaign".