ravenous
Ravenous (adjective) means Extremely hungry. Example: “After the hike, they were absolutely ravenous.”
How to use ravenous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStarving, or having a fierce appetite.
Despite the resemblance, ravenous is not historically connected to the bird raven — that link is just a popular folk association.
Word forms
more ravenous comparative, most ravenous superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After the hike, they were absolutely _____.
Etymology
From Old French ravineus, related to a root meaning "predatory" or "plundering" — not actually related to the bird "raven," though people often assume it is.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for ravenous
See all rhymes for ravenous →Frequently asked questions
What does “ravenous” mean?
The word “ravenous” means extremely hungry. In plain terms, starving, or having a fierce appetite.
How do you pronounce “ravenous”?
“Ravenous” is pronounced RA-vuh-nuhs (/ˈɹævənəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “ravenous” in a sentence?
Here is “ravenous” used in a sentence: “After the hike, they were absolutely ravenous.”
What is another word for “ravenous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ravenous” include starving.
What part of speech is “ravenous”?
“Ravenous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ravenous” come from?
The word “ravenous” comes from Old French. From Old French ravineus, related to a root meaning "predatory" or "plundering" — not actually related to the bird "raven," though people often assume it is.