craving

noun

crav·​ing ˈkrā-viŋ 

: an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing

a craving for chocolate

a craving for new experiences

Synonyms

• appetency
• appetite
• desire
• drive
• hankering
• hunger
• itch
• jones [slang]
• letch
• longing
• lust
• passion
• pining
• thirst
• thirstiness
• urge
• yearning
• yen

Examples of craving in a Sentence

I had a sudden craving for french fries, so I pulled into the nearest fast-food restaurant.

a pregnant woman with a craving for pickles

Recent Examples on the Web

That drug works by blocking the opioid receptors that trigger cravings. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2025

To satisfy any of these cravings, Putin will have to reach a peace agreement, preferably supplemented by an economic deal, or series of deals, with Trump. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 9 May 2025

While against LinkedIn's rules, pods exploit the platform's craving for engagement, driving ad revenue and subscriptions. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

The brand certainly knows a thing or two about appealing to consumers’ cravings for memories, nostalgia, and storytelling through fragrance. —Jennifer Chan, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see crave

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for craving

• braving
• caving
• graving
• laving
• paving
• raving
• saving
• shaving
• slaving
• staving
• waiving
• waving

Kids Definition

craving

noun

crav·​ing ˈkrā-viŋ 

: a great desire or longing