binge eating: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical/Clinical, Psychological, Everyday (informal description of behavior)
Quick answer
What does “binge eating” mean?
The compulsive consumption of large quantities of food in a short period, often to the point of discomfort, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The compulsive consumption of large quantities of food in a short period, often to the point of discomfort, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control.
A behavioral pattern characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food intake without compensatory behaviors like purging (as in bulimia), which can be a symptom of an eating disorder (Binge Eating Disorder).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term itself is identical and standard in both varieties. The clinical diagnosis 'Binge Eating Disorder' (BED) is used uniformly. Colloquially, 'to binge on something' is equally common.
Connotations
Identical serious, clinical, or concerning connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media and public health discourse due to higher prevalence rates discussed, but the term is standard globally in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “binge eating” in a Sentence
suffer from binge eatingengage in binge eatingcharacterized by binge eatingto binge eat (verb form)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “binge eating” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tends to binge eat when she's feeling stressed.
- He admitted to binge eating on biscuits last night.
American English
- She tends to binge eat whenever she's anxious.
- He binge ate an entire bag of chips.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; possibly in workplace wellness programmes.
Academic
Common in psychology, medicine, and public health research.
Everyday
Used to describe a loss of control around food, sometimes casually (e.g., 'I just binge ate a whole pizza').
Technical
A key diagnostic criterion for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) in DSM-5/ICD-11.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “binge eating”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “binge eating”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “binge eating”
- Confusing it with general overeating or a big appetite. Misspelling as 'binge-eating' (hyphenated form is less common as a noun). Using it as a verb incorrectly ('He binge-eatings' should be 'He binge eats' or 'He engages in binge eating').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bulimia Nervosa involves binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours like vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise. Binge Eating Disorder involves bingeing without these regular compensatory behaviours.
Clinically, yes. The behavior is defined by the loss of control and quantity consumed, not the nutritional quality of the food.
Yes. 'Binge eating' is the behavioral descriptor, and 'Binge Eating Disorder' (BED) is the formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 and ICD-11.
Overeating is common and occasional. Binge eating involves a discrete episode of eating an objectively large amount with a subjective sense of lack of control, often followed by shame or distress.
The compulsive consumption of large quantities of food in a short period, often to the point of discomfort, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control.
Binge eating: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪndʒ ˌiːtɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪndʒ ˌitɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To eat like there's no tomorrow”
- “To eat oneself sick (colloquial descriptor)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BINGE = Big INtake of food Gorges Entirely.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS A FLOOD / EATING IS A STORM (an overwhelming, uncontrollable natural force).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a clinical synonym for 'binge eating' in the context of an eating disorder?