crave

verb

ˈkrāv 

craved; craving

transitive verb

1

: to ask for earnestly : beg, demand

crave a pardon for neglect

2

a

: to want greatly : need

craves drugs

craves attention

b

: to yearn for

crave a vanished youth

intransitive verb

: to have a strong or inward desire

craves after affection

craver noun

Synonyms

• want
• enjoy
• desire

Choose the Right Synonym for crave

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for.

desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

Examples of crave in a Sentence

Like many celebrities, he craves attention.

I was craving french fries, so I pulled into the nearest fast-food restaurant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Not just taxing what people crave, but selling it—and creating the market if need be? —Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025

The transfer breakthrough Eddie Howe has been desperately craving after multiple setbacks — Bryan Mbeumo, Dean Huijsen and Joao Pedro among them — was at risk. —Chris Waugh, New York Times, 11 July 2025

The games draw large, simultaneous viewership that advertisers crave and thwart the tendency of many streaming subscribers to watch programs at moments of their own choosing. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 July 2025

As a 35-year-old who is going through a lot of hormonal changes postpartum, my skin craves the extra hydration, but breaks out if formulas are too oily. —Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 9 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English crafian; akin to Old Norse krefja to crave, demand

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for crave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave
• shave

Kids Definition

crave

verb

ˈkrāv 

craved; craving

1

: to ask earnestly : beg

crave a person's pardon

2

: to have a strong desire for

crave a glass of water

crave affection