treated; treating; treats
1
2
a
: to bear oneself toward : use
treat a horse cruelly
b
: to regard and deal with in a specified manner
—usually used with as
treat the matter as confidential
3
a
: to provide with free food, drink, or entertainment
they treated us to lunch
b
: to provide with enjoyment or gratification
4
: to care for or deal with medically or surgically
treat a disease
5
: to act upon with some agent especially to improve or alter
treat a metal with acid
1
: to pay another's expenses (as for a meal or drink) especially as a compliment or as an expression of regard or friendship
2
: to discuss terms of accommodation or settlement : negotiate
3
: to deal with a matter especially in writing : discourse
—usually used with of
a book treating of conservation
treater
noun
1
a
: the act of providing another with free food, drink, or entertainment
dinner will be my treat
b
: an entertainment given without expense to those invited
2
: an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement
seeing her again was a treat
Synonyms
Examples of treat in a Sentence
Verb
The author treats this issue in the next chapter.
This situation must be treated with great care.
I try to treat everyone equally.
She treats the horse cruelly.
They treated me like a member of their family.
I was treated like a queen.
My parents still treat me like a child.
Try to treat everyone as an equal.
Young people should always treat their elders with respect.
Let's go out to dinner. I'll treat.
Noun
We took the kids to the water park as a special treat.
cookies and other tasty treats
She rewarded the dog with a treat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024
Nick always walked the dinner refilling coffee and making sure every customer was treated as family.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2024
The Apache County Sheriff's Office in Arizona, which was among the agencies that responded to the train derailment and fire, said the scene was being treated as a hazardous materials incident and an evacuation was expanded to within a two-mile radius of the event.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024
Phoenix Fire Department personnel tried to treat Toure before pronouncing him dead at the scene, according to police.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024
No team has treated two goalies as No. 1 starters and won the Cup since the Bruins did it back in 1972.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2024
The person, who had direct contact with contaminated cattle, experienced only minor symptoms and was treated with Tamiflu.
—Gerson Freitas Jr./bloomberg, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
There is nothing scary about this lonely clown filling the air with melodic cover songs and treating your eardrums to crooning comparable to any Grammy winner.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
He was treated worse than an animal, forced to live in a basement closet -- unwanted, unloved, and denied the most basic of necessities.
—The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024
Those feeling peckish while looking at the view can order small plates, salads, sandwiches, a sweet treat, or a cheese and honey plate stacked with Anatolian cheeses.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024
But any holidays or occasions where there are treats or presents involved seem to bring out the worst in her.
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2024
There will be butterflies to release, live music, and uplifting messages from The Elizabeth Hospice’s grief support team along with sweet treats.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
Hitting up a coffee shop for a little treat is optional, though highly recommended.
—Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024
One downside: On our local 2024 Tax Day, June 17, it’s not known if any merchants will soften the blow with treats on that date as well.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024
To shoulder the costs, chocolate companies are gearing up to further hike the price of their treats in the coming months.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024
Of course, there will be plenty of treats on the flight.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Verb
The dog was treated at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital and is expected to survive.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024
Nick always walked the dinner refilling coffee and making sure every customer was treated as family.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2024
The Apache County Sheriff's Office in Arizona, which was among the agencies that responded to the train derailment and fire, said the scene was being treated as a hazardous materials incident and an evacuation was expanded to within a two-mile radius of the event.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2024
Phoenix Fire Department personnel tried to treat Toure before pronouncing him dead at the scene, according to police.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024
No team has treated two goalies as No. 1 starters and won the Cup since the Bruins did it back in 1972.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2024
The person, who had direct contact with contaminated cattle, experienced only minor symptoms and was treated with Tamiflu.
—Gerson Freitas Jr./bloomberg, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
There is nothing scary about this lonely clown filling the air with melodic cover songs and treating your eardrums to crooning comparable to any Grammy winner.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
He was treated worse than an animal, forced to live in a basement closet -- unwanted, unloved, and denied the most basic of necessities.
—The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
Noun
My treat to myself is to come back for the U.S. Open again, and hopefully Coco [Gauff] wins it again.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 28 Apr. 2024
Those feeling peckish while looking at the view can order small plates, salads, sandwiches, a sweet treat, or a cheese and honey plate stacked with Anatolian cheeses.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024
But any holidays or occasions where there are treats or presents involved seem to bring out the worst in her.
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2024
There will be butterflies to release, live music, and uplifting messages from The Elizabeth Hospice’s grief support team along with sweet treats.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
Hitting up a coffee shop for a little treat is optional, though highly recommended.
—Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024
One downside: On our local 2024 Tax Day, June 17, it’s not known if any merchants will soften the blow with treats on that date as well.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024
To shoulder the costs, chocolate companies are gearing up to further hike the price of their treats in the coming months.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024
Of course, there will be plenty of treats on the flight.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'treat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to treat
Dictionary Entries Near treat
Cite this Entry
“Treat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treat. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treat
1 of 2 verb1
: to discuss terms of agreement with : negotiate
treat with the enemy
2
a
: to have as a subject especially in writing
a book treating of crime
b
: to deal with : handle
roses must be treated with care
3
a
: to pay for another's food or entertainment
I'm treating tonight
b
: to provide with free food, entertainment, or enjoyment
let me treat you with lunch
4
: to handle, use, or act toward in a usually stated way
treat a horse cruelly
treat this as top secret
5
: to give medical or surgical care to
treat a patient
treat a cold
6
: to subject to some action or process to bring about a desired result
treat a metal with acid
treat
2 of 2 noun1
: an entertainment given without expense to those invited
2
: a usually unexpected or unusual source of pleasure or amusement
Medical Definition
treat
transitive verb
: to care for or deal with medically or surgically : deal with by medical or surgical means
treated their diseases
treats a patient
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share