cater for vs cater to

Both 'cater for' and 'cater to' are correct phrases, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Cater for' is more commonly used in British English and means to provide for or satisfy a need, while 'cater to' is more common in American English and means to provide a service or fulfill a request.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 850 views

cater for

This phrase is correct and commonly used in British English to mean providing for or satisfying a need.

Use 'cater for' when you want to express the idea of providing for or satisfying a need. It is commonly used in British English.

Examples:

The hotel caters for all dietary requirements.
The school aims to cater for students with different learning styles.

Show examples from the web [+]

I am pleased at the adoption of specific measures obliging transport companies to cater for disabled people or people with reduced mobility, and to train their staff accordingly.
Specialised police may be hosted in camps designed to cater for their operational needs.
G. Adjustment of the financial perspective to cater for enlargement
I. Adjustment of the financial framework to cater for enlargement
The common requirements should cater for identical processes within the competent authorities across the different aviation domains.
The European reference networks must cater for serious accidents requiring emergency medical care.
She has therefore included an amendment to cater for this concern in her draft report.
I don't normally cater for family groups.
I am convinced that the current rules can cater for most situations.
You have our full support because we feel that this mechanism will cater for the basic requirements.
In order to cater for specific needs, Member States should be entitled to provide additional aid.
Finally, some elements should be permissive rather than mandatory to cater for different Member State practices.
We further acknowledged that this right must be adapted to cater for the advent of the information society.
Poor service will not do now we are to cater for customers of a higher class.
Shipyards churn out oil tankers, container ships and gas tankers... to cater for the demands of globalized industrial production.
I was so wrapped up in myself and work that I couldn't cater for her needs.
Sufficient flexibility should be built in to cater for emerging needs and to give incentives to improve performance.
The ranges were subsequently made continuous to better cater for the fact that risk premiums do not remain constant over time.
In terms of Union added value, the Equity facility for R&I will complement national and regional schemes that cannot cater for cross-border investments in R&I.
Adjustment of the financial perspective to cater for enlargement

Alternatives:

provide for
satisfy the needs of
accommodate

cater to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in American English to mean providing a service or fulfilling a request.

Use 'cater to' when you want to express the idea of providing a service or fulfilling a request. It is commonly used in American English.