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

Her own relationship to religion forced her to contend with an inclination toward stifling (or at least judging) normal feelings of yearning and lust. —Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025

Then again, lust in music, art and literature is one of Vienna’s great gifts to the world. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025

Verb

Judging by the oohs and ahs from the Chanel front row, with or without a personality helming Chanel, their customers still found plenty to lust after come fall shopping time. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

The comment section of the post was filled with fans lusting after Nikko. —Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 27 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