EAT in sign language

This word entry contains ASL signs for 'eat', phrasal verbs, synonyms, and more vocabulary.

ASL signs for "eat"

How do you sign "eat" in American Sign Language?

Meaning: Put food into the mouth and chew and swallow it.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant flat "O" hand (handshape) with the fingertips facing the face (orientation) taps twice (movement) on the lips (location).

Usage examples: "need to eat something", "have you eaten yet?", "let's eat out", and many usages.

Same sign for FOOD. Whether it's a noun or a verb depends on what position this sign is in a sentence.

Synonyms for 'eat'

There are some more synonyms for EAT below.

Meaning: To put food into mouth using a spoon or a fork (e.g. eating cereal, soup, and such).

Not much usage. When it's used occasionally, it's usually by Deaf fluent and native signers. Examples: "this morning, I was in rush, quickly eating a bowl of cereal before zooming out".

Meaning: To put food into mouth such as eating some popcorn, nuts, or such.

Usage/context examples: "we munched some popcorns while watching a movie".

Phrasal verbs

eat up -- to finish all food; to eat all of something. Use EAT+[gloss].

eat up -- to use or consume a large amount of resources or time. See CONSUME.

Vocabulary

Related signs: NIBBLE, FEED, CHEW, DEVOUR, GUZZLE, CONSUME, SWALLOW, GULP, MUNCH.

Antonym: DRINK

Usage/Grammar

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Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL writing for EAT

ASLwrite (2016): to eat.

eat a lot

To eat a lot; to eat plenty of.

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