hunger
HUHNG-guh
Hunger (noun) means the physical need or desire to eat. Example: “After a long hike without lunch, the children could barely hide their hunger.”
noun
1
The physical need or desire to eat.
"After a long hike without lunch, the children could barely hide their hunger."
"He ate quickly to satisfy his hunger before the meeting began."
"The smell of fresh bread only sharpened her hunger."
2
A strong desire or craving for something other than food.
"Her hunger for knowledge led her to read every book in the library."
"The team showed real hunger to win after losing the last match."
"His hunger for success drove him to work late every night."
verb
1
To have a strong craving or longing for something.
"Living in a small town, he hungered for adventure and new places."
"The refugees hungered for peace and a place they could call home."
"She hungered for a chance to prove herself."
How to use hunger
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe need for food, or by extension, a strong craving for anything — success, knowledge, attention.
Common pairings
hunger for success
world hunger
satisfy hunger
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Word forms
- Plural
- hungers
- Third person singular
- hungers
- Past tense
- hungered
Fill the gap
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After a long hike without lunch, the children could barely hide their _____.
Etymology
From Old English hungor, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "hunger," ultimately traced to an Indo-European root for burning or yearning.
Synonyms
View more →
appetite
craving
starvation
famine
yearning
ravenousness
thirst
thirstiness
hungriness
starve
crave
famish
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hunger
See all rhymes for 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.
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