underfed
/ˌʌndəˈfed/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌndərˈfed/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-dər-ˈfēd How to pronounce underfeed (audio)/ (ame, mw)
underfed — adjective
- underfedpositive
- more underfedcomparative
- most underfedsuperlative
1. relating to people or animals that receive too small an amount of food over many
relating to people or animals that receive too small an amount of food over many days and become thin because of it
The veterinarian said the stray dog looked thin and underfed after weeks on the street.
adjective after 'look' (linking verb + adj)
Aid workers found hundreds of underfed children at the refugee camp in Darfur.
attributive position before a noun
The underfed kittens were taken to the local animal shelter for proper care.
Farmers reported that the drought left many cattle weak and severely underfed.
A diet of only bread and water kept the hostages alive but visibly underfed.
- malnourished
more clinical; suggests a lack of specific nutrients, not just calories
- undernourished
more formal; implies a chronic lack of food over time
- starving
much stronger; suggests life-threatening hunger
用法筆記
Common in news reports about humanitarian crises and in descriptions of neglected animals.
常見錯誤
underfed — verb
- underfedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- underfeds3rd person singular
- underfedding-ing form
- underfeddedpast simple
1. to give a person or animal less food than they need to grow or stay healthy, esp
to give a person or animal less food than they need to grow or stay healthy, especially when this is intentional or due to neglect
Imran was accused of underfeeding his horses by giving them only a handful of hay each day.
underfeed + direct object (horses)
The court heard that the elderly woman's son had deliberately underfed her for months.
If you underfeed a growing puppy, it may develop weak bones and slow growth.
Some factory farms underfeed their animals to save money on feed costs.
The prison guards were found guilty of systematically underfeeding the inmates.
- starve
stronger and more extreme; suggests withholding food to the point of danger
- deprive of food
more formal; emphasizes removal rather than insufficient quantity
- overfeed
to give too much food
文法句型
underfeed + person/animal
用法筆記
Often appears in passive form: 'The animals were underfed by their keeper.' Can carry a moral or legal judgment about neglect.
2. to give an insufficient quantity of food to a group or institution, often becaus
to give an insufficient quantity of food to a group or institution, often because of poverty or scarce resources
The hospital was found to have underfed its patients by cutting meal portions to save money.
underfeed + institution's members (patients)
During the long siege, the army underfed its soldiers because food supplies were running out.
An investigation revealed that the nursing home had been underfeeding residents for years.
Many poor families underfeed themselves so that their children can eat a little more.
The school cafeteria was accused of underfeeding students with tiny portions at lunch.
- short-change on food
informal; suggests stinginess rather than cruelty
- ration inadequately
more formal; implies controlled distribution
- nourish properly
to provide adequate nutrition
文法句型
underfeed + group/institution
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 focuses on systemic or resource-driven underfeeding rather than intentional cruelty. The object is often a collective noun (patients, soldiers, residents) rather than an individual.
3. to consume an amount of food that is too small for your body to remain healthy,
to consume an amount of food that is too small for your body to remain healthy, whether by choice or because supplies are low
Lauren had been underfeeding for weeks and began to feel dizzy every morning.
intransitive use: no direct object
The doctor warned Takeshi that if he continued to underfeed, his body would start breaking down muscle.
Young athletes sometimes underfeed because they worry about their weight before a competition.
People who underfeed for long periods often suffer from low energy and a weak immune system.
- skip meals
less severe; describes missing individual meals rather than chronic undereating
- undereat
closer in meaning and equally formal
- overeat
to eat too much
文法句型
underfeed (no object)
用法筆記
Much less common than the transitive or adjective forms. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 'not eat enough' than 'underfeed' when referring to themselves.