cater

USAGE SUMMARY

'cater' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a verb meaning "to provide food for a special event or gathering" or as a noun meaning "a person or company that provides the food for a special event or gathering". Example sentence: We hired a caterer to provide food for our wedding reception.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the end only half that number could be accommodated but to do so the organisers had to hire extra venues to cater for meetings on an astonishing range of social and political topics.

The Guardian

Kemp believes the current care system does not cater for people until crisis hits and cites a terrible story from an older man who collapsed in the bath, could not move and was not discovered for three days.

The Guardian

Paul Doyle recently wrote an insightful piece on how Rodgers's tactical changes this season have kept opposition teams guessing about what they will face and have also worked to best cater to Suárez and Sturridge's strike partnership.

The Guardian - Sport

Guardian Australia is aiming to better cater for the 1.1million Australians who regularly read the Guardian's global website - making it the fourth biggest market of digital readers after the US, UK and Canada – with the Sydney-headquartered dedicated online operation first unveiled in January.

The Guardian

Likewise, most politicians cater to the middle, not to this group of parents who are often too exhausted to be politically active.

The Guardian

It's as if it has become a parody to cater to tourists.

The Guardian - Music

"But nor should we cater to the wealthy at the expense of our middle-income workers and working poor, who are the backbone of every American community".

The Guardian

After suffering from work-related stress in a previous career, Gaze decided to turn the farm into a place to cater for people's wellbeing if they found themselves in a similar situation.

The Guardian

The financial services sector has focused on rolling out new and different kinds of savings products to cater to the growing need of parents to find some way to cover their kids' college expenses.

The Guardian - Money

An increasing number of night-time tours cater for this new-found interest, including the one I'm on, run by Tierra Atacama and based in the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.

The Guardian - Travel

Brett Hartl, endangered species policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity, called the rule a win for big industry and Republicans, not Democrats, precisely because of the increased exemptions introduced to cater to critics.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cater," consider the specific nuance you want to convey: is it simply providing a service, or is it tailoring something to specific needs or desires? This will help you choose the most appropriate alternative if needed.

Common error

While "cater" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise verbs like "provide" or "supply" might be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The verb "cater" functions primarily to describe the act of providing goods or services, often with the specific intent of satisfying particular needs or preferences. Ludwig AI confirms this aligns with common usage, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cater" is a very common verb that means to provide goods or services, often tailored to specific needs. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Predominantly found in news, business, and general contexts, "cater" holds a neutral register, fitting diverse communication scenarios. While synonyms like "provide for" or "supply" exist, the specific nuance of meeting particular needs often makes "cater" the most appropriate choice. Be mindful of the potential for overuse in highly formal settings. The usage examples and analysis affirm that "cater" is a reliable and versatile verb in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provide for

Focuses on making something available or supplying what is necessary.

supply

Highlights the act of furnishing or providing something needed or desired.

accommodate

Emphasizes adapting to or fulfilling specific requirements or preferences.

serve

Implies fulfilling a duty or providing something in a helpful manner.

attend to

Focuses on taking care of or dealing with someone's needs or requests.

take care of

Emphasizes responsibility and attentiveness in meeting someone's needs.

furnish

Highlights the act of providing something, especially equipment or supplies.

oblige

Suggests a sense of duty or willingness to fulfill a request or need.

pamper

Implies excessive indulgence and attention to someone's comfort and desires.

indulge

Focuses on giving in to someone's desires or whims, often for pleasure.

FAQs

How can I use "cater" in a sentence?

You can use "cater" to mean to provide food and service for an event, or to provide what is needed or desired. For example, "The restaurant caters weddings" or "The company tries to "cater to" the needs of its employees".

What are some alternatives to "cater"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "provide for", "supply", "accommodate", or "serve".

Is it correct to say "cater for"?

Yes, "cater for" is a common and correct usage, particularly in British English, meaning to provide what is needed or desired by someone or something. For example, "The hotel caters for families with young children".

What's the difference between "cater to" and "cater for"?

"Cater to" typically implies pleasing or satisfying someone's desires or whims, while "cater for" means to provide what is necessary or required. The phrase "cater to" often has a connotation of tailoring something to specific preferences, while "cater for" is more general.