digestion
gb/daɪd͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃən/ us/daɪd͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃən/
B1
English
~ 9400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
event
1
process of breaking down food
The process in your body that breaks food into small parts so your body can use it.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s digestion of [food]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "digestion" with the verb "digest" and say *"My body digestion the food"* instead of "My body digests the food" or "My digestion is slow." They may also say *"make the digestion"* instead of "help digestion" or "aid digestion."
Synonyms
metabolism (Broader term for all chemical processes in the body; digestion is one part of metabolism.)
Antonyms
indigestion (Refers to pain or discomfort caused by poor or difficult digestion.)
Collocations
aid digestion
|good digestion
|poor digestion
|digestion problems
|digestion process
|during digestion
Themes
health
|biology
|medicine
|daily life
|body
|science
Examples
- Chewing your food well is the first step in healthy digestion.
- The study explains how digestion turns carbohydrates into simple sugars.
- After a heavy meal, her digestion was slow and she felt very tired.
- Certain medications can affect normal digestion and cause stomach problems.
- Fiber plays an important role in the digestion of fats and proteins.
Learner examples
- Water helps with digestion after you eat.
- My doctor said slow eating is good for digestion.
- The stomach and intestines are important for digestion.
- Spicy food sometimes makes my digestion difficult.
- Exercise can improve your digestion.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
slow mental processing of information
The slow mental process of thinking about new ideas or information until you really understand them.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s digestion of [information]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is a formal, figurative use and might try to use it in very casual speech where "time to think" or "time to process" would sound more natural. They may also confuse it with the physical sense and say unclear things like *"My digestion of the book is bad"* instead of "I didn't really understand the book."
Synonyms
assimilation (Often used in formal contexts to describe fully taking in and integrating information or ideas.)
Antonyms
confusion (Describes a state where information is not clearly understood or mentally processed.)
Collocations
mental digestion
|careful digestion of
|full digestion of the report
|time for digestion
|digestion of complex ideas
|digestion of information
Themes
learning
|thinking
|education
|business
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The manager gave the team a day for the digestion of all the new policies.
- This book requires slow digestion rather than quick reading.
- After some quiet digestion of the data, she finally saw the pattern.
- The seminar was intense, and the audience needed time for mental digestion.
- His careful digestion of the evidence led to a very balanced report.
Learner examples
- I need some time for the digestion of this news.
- This is a lot of information, and it will take digestion.
- After the lecture, we sat in silence for digestion of the ideas.
- Careful digestion of the text will help you understand it better.
- The report is long and needs slow digestion.
Noun
B2
state
3
condition of someone's digestive system
How well or badly your body digests food, for example when you say your digestion is good or bad.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [good/bad] digestion
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"I have a bad digest"* instead of "I have bad digestion" or "I have indigestion." They may also overuse body-part phrases and say *"My stomach is bad"* when they specifically mean their digestion is weak or uncomfortable.
Synonyms
stomach health (Informal phrase that focuses on how well the stomach and related organs are working.)
Antonyms
indigestion (Names the discomfort and pain that usually comes when digestion is not working well.)
Collocations
good digestion
|poor digestion
|weak digestion
|healthy digestion
|upset digestion
|aid digestion
Themes
health
|daily life
|medicine
|body
|daily_life
Examples
- He has very good digestion and can eat almost anything.
- As she got older, her digestion became more sensitive.
- The new medicine improved his digestion within a week.
- Late-night meals often upset my digestion.
- Yogurt is said to help digestion and support healthy digestion.
Learner examples
- My digestion is not very good.
- Spicy food gives me bad digestion.
- She has weak digestion and eats small meals.
- Regular exercise can improve your digestion.
- The doctor asked if my digestion was normal.
Grammar
Dictionary form
digestion
IPA
GB/daɪd͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃən/
US/daɪd͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃən/
Syllables & stress
di - ges - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ges)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: digestion
- Plural: digestion, digestions
Word family
Expressions
aid digestion
1/ˈeɪd daɪd͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
help the body digest food
To make it easier for your body to digest food.
Examples
- A short walk after dinner can aid digestion.
- Drinking enough water during the day helps aid digestion.
good digestion
1/ɡˈʊd daɪd͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
state of healthy digestion
A condition where your body digests food easily and you do not feel pain or discomfort.
Examples
- Regular meals and enough sleep are important for good digestion.
- He can eat anything and still has good digestion.