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Definitions

fatten

[fat-n] / ˈfæt n /
VERB
grow or make bigger; nourish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
augment broaden build up swell
STRONG
bloat coarsen cram distend expand feed fill increase overfeed plump spread stuff thicken thrive wax
WEAK
gain weight put flesh on put on weight round out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decrease
STRONG
contract deflate deplete lose shrink
WEAK
thin undernourish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Neither did the temporary suspension of export taxes for grain dealers, which generated dollar inflows but didn’t fatten the bank’s war chest because there was also lots of peso selling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

Wilson’s phalaropes feed and fatten up at Mono Lake before their migration to South America.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2025

Hormones are usually used to fatten cattle in the later stages of production, a Defra spokesperson said, and therefore traces would be identifiable through checks.

From BBC • May 9, 2025

The Katmai brown bears are famous for standing at Brooks Falls, catching sockeye salmon in their mouths to fatten up for the winter.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2023

“We need to fatten him up,” Bertha said.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor