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treat

B1
verbnoun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /trˈiːt/

US

  • /ˈtrit/

Description

To treat someone means to act toward them in a certain way, often kindly or fairly. It can also mean paying for something for another person, as in "I'll treat you to lunch." As a noun, a treat is something special and enjoyable, like a piece of cake or a fun day out. The word is also common in health, where it means giving care for an illness or injury. In everyday English, it is a flexible word for the way we act, give, enjoy, or care.

Examples

  1. 1

    Workplace respect

    He always treats his staff with respect.

  2. 2

    Personal boundary

    Don't treat me like a child.

  3. 3

    Hospitality

    They treated us to dinner after the game.

    • Pattern

      treat someone to + something

      pay for something special for them

  4. 4

    Medical care

    The doctor is treating her for asthma.

    • Pattern

      treat someone for + illness

      give medical care for it

  5. 5

    Serious issue

    The school treats bullying as a serious problem.

    • Pattern

      treat something as + description

      consider it in that way

  6. 6

    Self-reward

    After a long week, she treated herself to a massage.

    • Pattern

      treat yourself to + something

      give yourself something special

  7. 7

    Birthday food

    We usually have cake as a birthday treat.

  8. 8

    Enjoyable experience

    Seeing the city covered in snow was a real treat.

    • Meaning

      a treat

      something enjoyable

  9. 9

    Paying offer

    Put your card away. It's my treat.

    • Phrase

      It's my treat

      I will pay

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • treatnounverb

Forms

  • treatedpast tenseverbnoun
  • treating-ing formverbnoun
  • treatspluralnounverb