ingest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ingest' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of taking something into the body, typically referring to food or a drug. For example, "I need to ingest my daily vitamins in order to stay healthy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When you drink matcha you are consuming the leaf and so you ingest all of its nutrients and antioxidants rather than throwing them away as you would with a normal tea.

The Guardian

But how could humans ingest enough sugar to trigger these quasi-explosions?

The Guardian

But the reality is that its continuing legal fallout from the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico and its deep involvement in the Russian state oil sector has made it a poisonous pill that few predators would want to ingest.

The Guardian - Business

Personal finance sites empowered to ingest financial statements could help spendthrifts reform.

The Economist

It is impossible to ingest a week's news without hearing about the full range of youth ills, from drugs and pregnancy to poor test scores and crime.There is something about human nature, or at least adult nature, that seems to demand this.

The Economist

For instance, though medical marijuana is now recognised in many parts of the world in California more than 20,000 people are registered to use it there are few studies into its benefits.Fun has its usesMDMA was first synthesised almost a century ago but was little noticed until the 1960s when young American chemists began to ingest it.

The Economist

People continue to ingest pesticides at moments of crisis, but now the poisons they take are safer and fewer die.

The Economist

Air slipping along the fuselage moves slower, so the engines ingest less oxygen and burn less fuel.Making planes more slipperyChanging the shape of an aircraft can be done at a microscopic as well as a macroscopic level.

The Economist

And the more capsaicin you ingest, the bigger and better it gets.Which is why the diet in the rich world is heating up.

The Economist

Although Germans seem to love Google's services (it has a 91% market share in online search), the firm itself is seen as a digital glutton that intends to ingest everything: personal data, intellectual property, industry, even democracy.

The Economist

And the more capsaicin you ingest, the bigger and better it gets.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ingest" when you want to emphasize the act of taking something into the body or mind, often with the implication of absorption or assimilation. It is suitable for formal and scientific contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "ingest" in casual conversations where simpler words like "eat", "drink", or "take in" would be more appropriate. "Ingest" can sound overly formal or technical in everyday settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ingest" is as a transitive verb, indicating an action performed on an object. Ludwig examples show it used to describe both the physical act of consuming substances and the metaphorical act of taking in information, confirming its verb status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

35%

Science

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As Ludwig AI confirms, the verb "ingest" is grammatically sound and widely used. It signifies the act of taking something in, whether literally (food or drink) or metaphorically (data or information). While versatile, "ingest" leans towards formality, fitting well in scientific, technical, or news contexts. Simpler alternatives like "eat" or "take in" may be preferable in casual settings. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its prevalence in reputable sources like The Economist and Encyclopedia Britannica, solidifying its credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consume

Focuses on the act of using something up, often implying complete absorption.

take in

A more general term for bringing something into the body or mind.

absorb

Emphasizes the assimilation or integration of something into a larger system.

eat

Specifically refers to taking food into the body.

swallow

Focuses on the physical action of moving something down the throat.

assimilate

Highlights the process of fully understanding or integrating information.

take on board

Implies accepting or adopting an idea or concept.

receive

A broad term for getting something, which can include information or substances.

imbibe

Often used for drinking, but can also mean to absorb knowledge or ideas.

procure

Focuses on the act of obtaining something, rather than the act of taking it in.

FAQs

How to use "ingest" in a sentence?

You can use "ingest" to describe the act of taking something into the body, such as "Animals ingest food to obtain nutrients" or metaphorically, like "The software can ingest large amounts of data".

What can I say instead of "ingest"?

You can use alternatives like "consume", "take in", or "absorb" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "ingest" and "eat"?

"Eat" specifically refers to consuming food, while "ingest" is a broader term that can refer to taking in any substance, including food, liquids, or even data. "Eat" is less formal than "ingest".

Is it appropriate to use "ingest" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "ingest" is often perceived as formal or technical. In everyday conversation, simpler alternatives like "eat" or "take in" might be more suitable.