famished

adjective

fam·​ished ˈfa-misht 

1

: suffering extreme hunger

… described famished people walking long distances … to escape from drought and violence …

—Emma Farge and Abdi Sheikh

also : needy sense 1

2

: very hungry

… famished students looking for an affordable, filling lunch …

—Anna Domownik

Synonyms of famished

• hungry
• starving
• starved

Examples of famished in a Sentence

What's for supper? I'm famished.

after a full day of skiing, I was feeling absolutely famished

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the few remaining bistros that once served Les Halles’ famished porters, this elbow-to-elbow spot is referred to by regulars as Chez Denise, after its late former owner, Denise Benariac. —Lindsey Tramuta, Saveur, 19 Nov. 2025

With hundreds of stores and services, Asian Garden Mall is a bustling place for the famished. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025

In his last broadcast — aired hours before he was killed — al-Sharif showed images of Gaza's famished children suffering from Israeli restrictions on aid. —Aya Batrawy, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025

Newcomer to the scene, The Madrid Edition, opened three years ago but is already established as a multi-pronged watering hole for the chic and famished. —Alissa Fitzgerald, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1