did not feed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not feed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something failed to provide food or nourishment. Example: "The owner did not feed the dog, which led to its distress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They found that hadrosaurs and ceratopsids, two groups of large-bodied, bulk-feeding herbivores animals that did not feed selectively may have experienced a decline in biodiversity in the 12 million years before the dinosaurs ultimately went extinct.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

It did not feed off the treetops.

The New Yorker

If only, Glenis says, folk did not feed them.

The Guardian

But Nazneen did not feed in the morning.

The Guardian - Books

A critic in The Times of London emoted: "Ferran Adrià did not feed us.

The New York Times - Books

Downward panic did not feed on itself, but proved responsive to clarification.

The Economist

Lunchtime was at 10 45 A.M., but the prison guards did not feed him.

The New Yorker

They did not feed him and they beat him with a crucifix.

The New Yorker

This time, she did not feed him but simply sat and waited for him to say something.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"They didn't feed us.

The New York Times

As if she didn't feed me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dietary restrictions or preferences, use "did not feed" to clearly indicate the absence of specific food items in a diet. For example, "The study showed that patients who "did not feed" on processed foods experienced better health outcomes."

Common error

Avoid using "did not feed" when you mean other forms of care or support. "Feed" specifically relates to providing nourishment. Using it in broader contexts, like "did not feed their ambition", can be confusing. Use a more appropriate verb like "nurture" or "encourage" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not feed" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the absence of the action of providing food or nourishment. It is commonly used to describe a lack of feeding, whether intentional or unintentional, as Ludwig AI's analysis and the provided examples demonstrate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not feed" is a verb phrase used to express the absence of providing food or nourishment. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and common in written English. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral register. When writing, ensure that "did not feed" is used specifically to describe a lack of providing sustenance, and consider alternatives like "didn't nourish" or "withheld sustenance" for different nuances. Avoid confusing it with broader terms of care or support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not fed

Passive voice construction of the original phrase, emphasizing the receiver of the action.

didn't nourish

Emphasizes the lack of providing essential nutrients.

neglected to nourish

Implies a lack of care in providing food.

deprived of nourishment

Highlights the act of taking away necessary food.

withheld sustenance

Focuses on deliberately not providing what is needed to survive.

failed to sustain

Focuses on the unsuccessful attempt to keep something alive through feeding.

did not nourish properly

Highlights the possibility of feeding, but lacking quality or nutritional value.

didn't provide for

Highlights the lack of overall support, including feeding.

starved

Indicates severe lack of food, often leading to death.

went without food

Focuses on the experience of not receiving food.

FAQs

How can I use "did not feed" in a sentence?

You can use "did not feed" to describe a situation where someone or something was not given food. For example, "The zookeeper "did not feed" the snakes live prey."

What's a more formal alternative to "did not feed"?

In more formal contexts, you could use "withheld sustenance" or "failed to provide nourishment" as alternatives to "did not feed". For example, in a scientific paper you might write, "The experiment showed that subjects that "withheld sustenance" experienced rapid weight loss."

Is it better to say "did not feed" or "didn't feed"?

"Didn't feed" is a contraction of "did not feed" and is perfectly acceptable in most informal contexts. "Did not feed" is slightly more formal and may be preferred in academic or professional writing. For example, "The scientists "did not feed" the test subjects after midnight."

What is the difference between "did not feed" and "refused to feed"?

"Did not feed" simply indicates that no food was given, while "refused to feed" implies a deliberate choice not to provide food. If the action was intentional, "refused to feed" is a better choice.