thirsty
THURS-tee
Thirsty (adj) means needing or wanting a drink. Example: “Running in the heat always makes me thirsty.”
adj
1
Needing or wanting a drink.
"Running in the heat always makes me thirsty."
"After the long hike, the whole group was thirsty and tired."
"The puppy drank noisily because it was so thirsty."
2
Having a strong desire for something, often used figuratively.
"He was thirsty for success after years of setbacks."
"The young reporter was thirsty for knowledge and asked endless questions."
"The team, thirsty for a win, trained harder than ever."
3
Desperately or obviously eager for attention or romantic/sexual interest (slang).
"She thought his constant likes on her photos were a bit thirsty."
"Posting ten selfies a day with sad captions seemed thirsty to his friends."
"Replying to every comment within seconds made her look a little thirsty."
How to use thirsty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWanting a drink — or, in slang, coming across as overly eager for attention.
When to use it
The "desperate for attention" sense is informal internet slang.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
thirsty for water
thirsty for attention
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Word forms
- Plural
- thirsties
- Comparative
- thirstier
- Superlative
- thirstiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Running in the heat always makes me _____.
Etymology
From Old English þurstiġ, formed from thirst plus -y.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for thirsty
See all rhymes for thirsty →Frequently asked questions
What does “thirsty” mean?
The word “thirsty” means needing or wanting a drink. In plain terms, wanting a drink — or, in slang, coming across as overly eager for attention.
How do you pronounce “thirsty”?
“Thirsty” is pronounced THURS-tee (/ˈθɝs.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “thirsty” in a sentence?
Here is “thirsty” used in a sentence: “Running in the heat always makes me thirsty.”
What is another word for “thirsty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “thirsty” include adry, athirst, drouthy, droughty, dry and parched.
What is the opposite of “thirsty”?
The opposite of “thirsty” — its antonyms — are nonthirsty, unthirsty, satiated, sated and slaked.
What part of speech is “thirsty”?
“Thirsty” is an adjective.
Where does the word “thirsty” come from?
The word “thirsty” comes from Old English. From Old English þurstiġ, formed from thirst plus -y.
Is “thirsty” a common word?
“Thirsty” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "thirsty" and "dehydrated"?
"Thirsty" describes the feeling or sensation of needing a drink, while "dehydrated" describes an actual physical state of having too little water in the body. A person can feel thirsty without being medically dehydrated, and dehydration can occur before thirst is even noticed.
What does "thirsty" mean in slang, and how is it different from feeling literally thirsty?
As slang, "thirsty" describes someone who is desperately or obviously eager for attention or romantic interest, often seen as coming on too strong. This figurative use is unrelated to needing a drink and is common in informal speech and social media.
What does it mean to be "thirsty for" something?
The phrase "thirsty for" is used figuratively to describe a strong desire for something other than water, such as "thirsty for knowledge" or "thirsty for success." It extends the literal need for a drink into a metaphor for eager craving.
