hunger

1 of 2

noun

hun·​ger ˈhəŋ-gər 

1

a

: a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient

b

: an uneasy sensation occasioned by the lack of food

The small meal wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger.

c

: a weakened condition brought about by prolonged lack of food

died of hunger

2

: a strong desire : craving

a hunger for success

hunger

2 of 2

verb

hungered; hungering ˈhəŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to feel or suffer hunger (see hunger entry 1)

feasting while the poor hunger

2

: to have an eager desire

The nation hungers for a strong leader.

transitive verb

: to make hungry

Phrases

from hunger

: very bad or inept

the jokes were from hunger

—Mordecai Richler

Synonyms

Noun

• appetite
• belly
• emptiness
• famishment
• munchies
• stomach

Verb

• ache (for)
• covet
• crave
• desiderate
• desire
• die (for)
• hanker (for or after)
• itch (for)
• jones (for) [slang]
• long (for)
• lust (for or after)
• pant (after)
• pine (for)
• repine (for)
• salivate (for)
• sigh (for)
• thirst (for)
• want
• wish (for)
• yearn (for)
• yen (for)

Choose the Right Synonym for hunger

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something.

long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

longed for some rest

yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

hungered for a business of his own

thirsted for power

Examples of hunger in a Sentence

Noun

She has been a leader in the fight against world hunger.

One sandwich wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger.

Her students have a genuine hunger for knowledge.

Verb

voters hungering for honest and upright leadership

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What lies ahead for Woods, with the Masters just four months away, will be determined by his iffy health, insatiable hunger and even the golf gods. —Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024

There is great agreement among disparate groups on the need to address crises related to mental health, caring for elders and hunger. —David Hessekiel, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Verb

People have always hungered for opportunities to stretch, grow and leverage their personal strengths and capabilities. —Dr. Lisa Toppin, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

There has to be something in you, something that hungers for clarity. —Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English hungor; akin to Old High German hungar hunger, Lithuanian kanka torture

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

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

Phrases Containing hunger

• anti-hunger
• die from/of hunger
• hunger strike

Kids Definition

hunger

1 of 2 noun

hun·​ger ˈhəŋ-gər 

1

a

: a desire or a need for food

b

: an uneasy feeling or weakened condition resulting from lack of food

2

: a strong desire : craving

a hunger for praise

hunger adjective

hunger

2 of 2 verb

hungered; hungering -g(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to feel or suffer hunger

2

: to have an eager desire

hungered for affection

Medical Definition

hunger

noun

hun·​ger ˈhəŋ-gər 

1

: a craving, desire, or urgent need for food

2

: an uneasy sensation occasioned normally by the lack of food and resulting directly from stimulation of the sensory nerves of the stomach by the contraction and churning movement of the empty stomach

3

: a weakened disordered condition brought about by prolonged lack of food

die of hunger