fatten

verb

fat·​ten ˈfa-tᵊn How to pronounce fatten (audio)
fattened; fattening fa-tə-niŋ How to pronounce fatten (audio)
ˈfat-niŋˈ
Synonyms of fattennext

transitive verb

1
a
: to make fat, fleshy, or plump
especially : to feed (an animal) for slaughter
b
: to make more substantial
2
: to make fertile

intransitive verb

: to become fat
fattener
ˈfa-tə-nər How to pronounce fatten (audio)
ˈfat-nər
noun

Examples of fatten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Don’t stress about your pile of fall reading; fatten it up, baby, and pick up one of this month’s new releases. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Steve Jobs and Tim Cook solved Apple’s biggest problems of their respective eras — building new products people loved and then manufacturing them at global, margin-fattening scale. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Cattle that might have come to the US and fattened on American corn to be turned into steaks are now fed, slaughtered and packed entirely in Mexico – then sent to the US as boxed beef. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 Those that survived are doing well, fattening up in time not just for fall and hibernation season but … drumroll, please … the very first Fat Marmot Week. — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fatten

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fatten was circa 1552

Rhymes for fatten

See All Rhymes for fatten

Browse Nearby Words

fat-tailed sheep
fatten
fattener
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatten. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fatten

verb
fat·​ten ˈfat-ᵊn How to pronounce fatten (audio)
fattened; fattening ˈfat-niŋ How to pronounce fatten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become fat
fattener
-(ə-)nər How to pronounce fatten (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fatten

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fatten

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