0%

eat one's words

word
E e

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [wurd]
    • /it wʌnz wɜrd/
    • /iːt wʌnz wɜːd/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [wurd]
    • /it wʌnz wɜrd/

Definitions of eat one's words words

  • noun eat one's words a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning. Words are composed of one or more morphemes and are either the smallest units susceptible of independent use or consist of two or three such units combined under certain linking conditions, as with the loss of primary accent that distinguishes black·bird· from black· bird·. Words are usually separated by spaces in writing, and are distinguished phonologically, as by accent, in many languages. 1
  • noun eat one's words (used in combination with the first letter of an offensive or unmentionable word, the first letter being lowercase or uppercase, with or without a following hyphen): My mom married at 20, and she mentions the m-word every time I meet someone she thinks is eligible. See also f-word, n-word. 1
  • noun eat one's words words. speech or talk: to express one's emotion in words; Words mean little when action is called for. the text or lyrics of a song as distinguished from the music. contentious or angry speech; a quarrel: We had words and she walked out on me. 1
  • noun eat one's words a short talk or conversation: Marston, I'd like a word with you. 1
  • noun eat one's words an expression or utterance: a word of warning. 1
  • noun eat one's words warrant, assurance, or promise: I give you my word I'll be there. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of eat one's words

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch woord, German Wort, Old Norse orth, Gothic waurd; akin to OPruss wirds, Latin verbum ‘word’, Lithuanian var̃das ‘name’

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Eat one's words

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

eat one's words popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

Synonyms for eat one's words

verb eat one's words

  • annul — If an election or a contract is annulled, it is declared invalid, so that legally it is considered never to have existed.
  • revoke — to take back or withdraw; annul, cancel, or reverse; rescind or repeal: to revoke a decree.
  • backtrack — If you backtrack on a statement or decision you have made, you do or say something that shows that you no longer agree with it or support it.
  • repudiate — to reject as having no authority or binding force: to repudiate a claim.
  • contradict — If you contradict someone, you say that what they have just said is wrong, or suggest that it is wrong by saying something different.

Antonyms for eat one's words

verb eat one's words

  • corroborate — To corroborate something that has been said or reported means to provide evidence or information that supports it.
  • affirm — If you affirm that something is true or that something exists, you state firmly and publicly that it is true or exists.
  • permit — to allow to do something: Permit me to explain.
  • sanction — authoritative permission or approval, as for an action.
  • validate — to make valid; substantiate; confirm: Time validated our suspicions.

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?