hunger
2 antonyms and opposites of hunger, grouped by meaning.
Noun — The physical need or desire to eat.
Antonyms
How to use hunger
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hungor, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "hunger," ultimately traced to an Indo-European root for burning or yearning.
Full origin of hunger →Frequently asked questions
What does “hunger” mean?
The word “hunger” means the physical need or desire to eat. In plain terms, the need for food, or by extension, a strong craving for anything — success, knowledge, attention.
How do you pronounce “hunger”?
“Hunger” is pronounced HUHNG-guh (/ˈhʌŋɡɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hunger” in a sentence?
Here is “hunger” used in a sentence: “The smell of fresh bread only sharpened her hunger.”
What is the opposite of “hunger”?
The opposite of “hunger” — its antonyms — are satiety and satiation.
What part of speech is “hunger”?
Depending on how it is used, “hunger” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hunger” come from?
The word “hunger” comes from Old English. From Old English hungor, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "hunger," ultimately traced to an Indo-European root for burning or yearning.
Is “hunger” a common word?
“Hunger” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hunger” have?
“Hunger” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the physical need or desire to eat.
What is the difference between hunger and appetite?
Hunger is the physical need or drive to eat that the body signals when it needs food. Appetite is the desire or interest in eating, which can be present even when you are not physically hungry, or absent when you are.
What is the difference between hunger and starvation?
Hunger describes the ordinary physical need or desire to eat, and it is usually relieved by a meal. Starvation is the severe, prolonged and dangerous condition that results from a long-term lack of food, so it is far more extreme than hunger.
Can hunger be used figuratively rather than about food?
Yes. Beyond the physical need to eat, hunger can mean a strong desire or craving for something other than food, as in a hunger for success or a hunger for knowledge. In these uses it signals intense ambition or longing.
What words commonly go with hunger?
Hunger frequently pairs with verbs like satisfy, feel, and stave off, as in satisfy your hunger. In its figurative sense it is often followed by for, as in a hunger for power or a hunger for adventure.