craving
KRAY-vihng
Craving (noun) means a strong, persistent desire for something. Example: “She had a sudden craving for salty snacks.”
noun
1
A strong, persistent desire for something.
"She had a sudden craving for salty snacks."
"His craving for approval drove most of his decisions."
"The list of potential victories you could achieve with your reset is long, and it includes a fafillion wins that have nothing to do with the scale: Fewer blemishes. Thicker hair. Less join pain. Reduced cravings. No midday energy slump."
— Melissa Hartwig, Food Freedom Forever (2016)
How to use craving
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA powerful urge or longing for something, often food or a habit.
Common pairings
sugar craving
satisfy a craving
intense craving
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Word forms
- Plural
- cravings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She had a sudden _____ for salty snacks.
Etymology
From crave + the suffix -ing, turning the verb into a noun for the feeling itself.
Related words
Rhymes for craving
See all rhymes for craving →Frequently asked questions
What does “craving” mean?
The word “craving” means a strong, persistent desire for something. In plain terms, a powerful urge or longing for something, often food or a habit.
How do you pronounce “craving”?
“Craving” is pronounced KRAY-vihng (/ˈkɹeɪ.vɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “craving” in a sentence?
Here is “craving” used in a sentence: “She had a sudden craving for salty snacks.”
What part of speech is “craving”?
“Craving” is a noun.
Is “craving” a common word?
“Craving” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between a craving and a want?
A want is a general desire for something, while a craving is a strong, persistent, and often hard-to-ignore desire, frequently associated with food, drink, or habitual pleasures. Cravings tend to feel more urgent and physically insistent than an ordinary want.
Are cravings always about food?
No, although craving is very often used for food, such as a craving for chocolate, it can describe a strong persistent desire for anything, including attention, affection, or excitement. The word itself is not limited to appetite; it simply signals intensity and persistence of desire.
What is the difference between a craving and an addiction?
A craving is a strong desire for something, whereas addiction refers to a compulsive dependency that often produces cravings as one of its symptoms. Not every craving indicates addiction, but persistent, hard-to-resist cravings are commonly associated with addictive patterns.
