catered - Master This Word
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catered Word Meanings
- to provide food and services for an event
- to satisfy a need or desire
- to adapt to someone's preferences
catered Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
catered Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈkeɪtə/
US
/ˈkeɪtər/
catered Word Etymology
cater = from 'cater' (to provide, to prepare); derived from Latin 'catare' → Old French 'acater' → English. Picture a chef preparing a grand banquet, skillfully setting the table and ensuring everything is to everyone's taste.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
Hands still damp, I move a stack of plates to the counter, push a cart aside, and place a warm tray on the table. I watch the space fill with steam as I adjust the heat, fold napkins, and set out the cutlery just so. My wrists turn with care, I hold the tray steady, then turn it toward the guests. In that moment of focus, catering becomes about listening for needs and making the room feel cared for, one plate at a time.
Real Context
Cater means to provide food and services for an event, such as a party or conference. It also covers the idea of meeting a need or desire by offering what someone wants, not just what is convenient. In practice, people say a restaurant can cater to dietary restrictions, or a hotel can cater to a guest’s preferences. Learners often confuse this with 'care' or assume 'to cater for' always refers to meals. The phrasal variant 'cater to' emphasizes pleasing or accommodating someone, while 'cater for' can mean arrange or supply for a specific purpose. To use it well, pair with a noun (catering, caterer) or a target (cater to customers, cater for a wedding).
Usage Reminders
- cater is a transitive verb.
- Use it with to when talking about pleasing or accommodating someone's tastes (cater to).
- Use it with for when referring to providing something for a purpose or event (cater for a wedding).
- The noun form is catering; a person who does the service is a caterer.
- Common subjects: restaurants, hotels, event planners, and caterers.
- Active voice: The company will cater the conference and its breaks.
Common Misconceptions
- Cater only means providing food, not services.
- Cater is the same as care; they are interchangeable in meaning.
- Cater to and cater for always map to the same usage.
- Catering is only for large events.
- Catering implies doing it yourself rather than hiring a service.
Thinking Differences
Cater is broader than just food: it covers providing services and meeting needs for others. Learners should note when to use 'to' (focusing on pleasing or accommodating someone) vs 'for' (providing for a purpose or event), and remember the noun forms catering and caterer.
Learning Tips
- Think of cater as providing meals and services, not just food.
- Learn the 'to' vs 'for' nuance with examples.
- memorize catering and caterer as related nouns.
- Practice with events (weddings, conferences, parties).
- Use passive voice for formal contexts: The event will be catered by ...
- Keep prepositions with verbs in mind for natural collocations.
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