lust

1 of 2

noun

ˈləst 

1

: usually intense or unbridled sexual desire : lasciviousness

He was motivated more by lust than by love.

2

a

: an intense longing : craving

a lust to succeed

b

: enthusiasm, eagerness

admired his lust for life

3

obsolete

a

: pleasure, delight

b

: personal inclination : wish

lust

2 of 2

verb

lusted; lusting; lusts

intransitive verb

: to have an intense desire or need : crave

specifically : to have a sexual urge

Synonyms

Noun

• ardor
• concupiscence
• eros
• eroticism
• horniness
• itch
• lustfulness
• passion

Verb

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

Examples of lust in a Sentence

Noun

He was consumed by lust.

He was driven by a lust for power.

Lust for chocolate drew her into the candy store.

Verb

I'm lusting after that new SUV

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Trump’s pettiness and lust for vengeance are un-American Like white on rice, Trump is all over you, President Zelenskyy. —Sabrina Haake, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025

This simmering drama set at a cruising beach drips with longing, lust, and the breezy freedom of a warm and sunny day spent by the water watching bodies glisten. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025

Verb

Where are the unequivocal condemnations of the terrorists and the citizens of Gaza who lust for nothing more than blood and the death of Jews? —Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2025

All of her characters were pursued, lusted after and more or less left wanting. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German lust pleasure and perhaps to Latin lascivus wanton

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lust

• lust for life

Rhymes for lust

• bused
• bust
• crust
• cussed
• dust
• fussed
• fust
• gust
• just
• mussed
• must
• rust

Kids Definition

lust

1 of 2 noun

ˈləst 

1

: sexual desire especially if strong or uncontrolled

2

: a strong longing : craving

lust

2 of 2 verb

: to have a strong desire : crave

especially : to have a strong sexual desire