'Meat' is animal flesh used as food; 'meet' means to encounter someone or a gathering.
Noun. The flesh of an animal used as food.
The butcher recommended the lean cut of meat for the stew.
Many people are reducing their meat consumption for health reasons.
Red meat should be cooked to a safe internal temperature.
Verb: to encounter or be introduced to someone, or to gather. Noun (informal): a meeting or competition.
Let's meet at the café at noon to discuss the proposal.
I first met my business partner at a networking event.
Nice to meet you! I have heard a lot about your work.
Common mistake
Mixing them up in quick messages: "Let's meat for coffee" (correct: meet). Or writing 'meet' instead of 'meat' in a grocery list.
Trick to remember it
'Meat' contains 'eat' — you eat meat. 'Meet' has a double E like two people facing each other: the two E's are the two people meeting.
Quick rule
'Meat' contains 'eat' — it is food. 'Meet' has two E's for two people coming together.
Did you know?
In Old English, 'meat' meant any kind of food, not just animal flesh. This survives in words like 'sweetmeat' (an old term for candy) and in the archaic expression 'meat and drink' meaning food and beverage.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Can we _____ on Thursday to go over the quarterly results?
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The restaurant is famous for its aged _____ and craft beer selection.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
'Meat' contains 'eat' — it is food. 'Meet' has two E's for two people coming together.
Mixing them up in quick messages: "Let's meat for coffee" (correct: meet). Or writing 'meet' instead of 'meat' in a grocery list.
'Meat' contains 'eat' — you eat meat. 'Meet' has a double E like two people facing each other: the two E's are the two people meeting.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy