devours

USAGE SUMMARY

'devours' is a correct and commonly used word in written English.
It is a verb that means to consume something with great enthusiasm or greed. It can be used in various contexts to describe someone or something consuming or eating something quickly and eagerly. Example: The hungry lion roared and then swiftly devoured its prey. In this sentence, 'devoured' is used to describe the lion eating its prey with great hunger and speed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As the dinosaur that leaps out of the water and devours a shark in the Jurassic World trailer, it's become notorious as the most polarising creature in the film.

The Guardian - Film

"We consider Aristide to be like a wolf who devours his children," said Butheur Metayer, the dead man's brother, who has appointed himself police chief in Gonaïves.The opposition Democratic Platform, made up of political parties, students, civic and business groups, has condemned the violence.

The Economist

This "eat them to beat them" approach already helps keep down the population of lion fish, a rapacious stripy sea-beast which devours protected fish stocks off America's west coast.Wild meat is not always tasty.

The Economist

Her older son, who is five, devours maths apps and asks his mother questions about arithmetic.

The Economist

Some jamming equipment can scramble these signals, as well as those from mobile phones, but the best kit devours battery power and costs more than €100,000 ($140,000).

The Economist

The most serious threat to the reef is not agricultural run-off (which warms the water and increases its nutrient level, so that the coral gets choked by algae and dies), but a nasty starfish called the crown of thorns, originally imported in the ballast tanks of foreign vessels, which devours coral polyps.

The Economist

But instead of waiting to be fed, a larva devours the second egg that her mother laid.

The Economist

Join New Labour on favourable terms before it devours you anyway: that has been Mr Ashdown's unspoken motto.Whatever the merits of the two positions, there is no denying that the party faces a painful strategic choice.

The Economist

Earlier this year barnesandnoble.com, the Internet arm of America's giant bookseller, signed him up to write regular online reviews of some of the two to five books that he devours each week at his villa in Bermuda.

The Economist

Urban sprawl devours the richest land in the Nile Delta at nearly 1% a year, despite stringent rules against building.

The Economist

A 2002 World Bank study found that private tuition accounted for fully 1.6% of GDP, and other studies suggest it devours a whopping 20% of household spending in families with school-age children.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devours" to convey a sense of intense hunger, enthusiasm, or completeness in consumption, whether literal or metaphorical. It adds a vivid and forceful image to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "devours" when a more neutral term like "eats" or "consumes" would be more appropriate. Overusing "devours" can make your writing sound overly dramatic or exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "devours" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense of "devour". It describes an action performed by a singular subject. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it frequently depicts the act of consuming something rapidly and enthusiastically.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

9%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devours" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb that signifies consuming something with great eagerness or completeness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it can be applied both literally and figuratively to add vividness and force to descriptions. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts, maintaining a neutral to slightly formal register. To enhance your writing, employ "devours" when you want to emphasize the intensity and thoroughness of an action, but be mindful to avoid overuse in situations where a more understated term would suffice. Consider related phrases such as "consumes" or "ingests" for alternative options that may suit different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consumes

Implies a gradual or complete using up of something, not necessarily with the same voracity as "devours".

ingests

Refers specifically to the act of taking something into the body, often in a biological context.

eats greedily

More explicitly describes the manner of eating, emphasizing the lack of restraint.

wolfs down

Suggests eating something very quickly and eagerly, often without proper chewing.

ravages

Indicates a destructive consumption or wearing away, often in the context of time or natural forces.

obliterates

Implies a complete and utter destruction or removal, going beyond mere consumption.

absorbs entirely

Emphasizes the complete integration or assimilation of something, often in an intellectual or metaphorical sense.

is engrossed in

Shifts the meaning to being completely absorbed or captivated by something, rather than physically consuming it.

makes short work of

Highlights the speed and efficiency with which something is consumed or completed.

annihilates

Conveys total destruction or obliteration, often with violent or powerful connotations.

FAQs

How can I use "devours" in a sentence?

You can use "devours" to describe someone eating quickly and eagerly, like "The child devours his cookies". It can also be used metaphorically, such as "The project devours all of my time".

What are some synonyms for "devours"?

Some synonyms for "devours" include "consumes", "ingests", "eats greedily", or "wolfs down", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "He devours books"?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. It means he reads books with great enthusiasm and speed. The word "devours" doesn't only refer to the consumption of food.

What is the difference between "devours" and "eats"?

"Eats" is a general term for consuming food. "Devours" implies eating something quickly, eagerly, and often completely. "Devours" has a stronger and more vivid connotation than "eats".