An eater is someone who eats, but the word usually appears with a describing word in front of it to tell you how or what they eat. A picky eater only likes certain foods and refuses to try new things. A big eater consumes large portions at meals. A fast eater finishes their food quickly, while a slow eater takes their time.

You'll also see the word combined with specific foods: a meat-eater eats meat, while a plant-eater (like a rabbit or deer) eats only plants. Some people jokingly call themselves cookie eaters or ice cream eaters when they really love those treats.

The word can describe eating habits more broadly too. If someone is described as “a good eater,” it usually means they eat a variety of foods without fussing. Parents of toddlers often worry about whether their child is a good eater.

Less commonly, an eater can be something that gradually uses up or destroys something, like calling an old car “a gas eater” because it burns through fuel quickly.