starve
stahv
Starve (verb) means to suffer or die from lack of food. Example: “Crops failed for three straight years, and many people starved.”
verb
1
To suffer or die from lack of food.
"Crops failed for three straight years, and many people starved."
"The stranded hikers feared they would starve before help arrived."
2
To be extremely hungry, often used informally as exaggeration.
"I'm starving — is dinner ready yet?"
3
To deprive someone or something of food, attention, or another vital need.
"The siege was meant to starve the city into surrender."
How to use starve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo suffer badly (or die) from lack of food, or informally, to be very hungry.
When to use it
"I'm starving" for mild hunger is casual, everyday exaggeration, not literal.
Common pairings
starve to death
starving for attention
starve someone out
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- starves
- Past tense
- starved, starven
- Archaic forms
- starvest, starvedst, starveth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Crops failed for three straight years, and many people _____.
Etymology
From Old English steorfan, "to die," related to German sterben ("to die") — the narrower sense of dying from hunger developed later in English.
Related words
Rhymes for starve
See all rhymes for starve →Frequently asked questions
What does “starve” mean?
The word “starve” means to suffer or die from lack of food. In plain terms, to suffer badly (or die) from lack of food, or informally, to be very hungry.
How do you pronounce “starve”?
“Starve” is pronounced stahv (/stɑɹv/ in IPA).
How do you use “starve” in a sentence?
Here is “starve” used in a sentence: “Crops failed for three straight years, and many people starved.”
What part of speech is “starve”?
“Starve” is a verb.
Where does the word “starve” come from?
The word “starve” comes from Old English. From Old English steorfan, "to die," related to German sterben ("to die") — the narrower sense of dying from hunger developed later in English.
Is “starve” a common word?
“Starve” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “starve” have?
“Starve” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to suffer or die from lack of food.
