hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē 

hungrier; hungriest

1

a

: feeling an uneasy or painful sensation from lack of food : feeling hunger

b

: characterized by or characteristic of hunger or appetite

a wolf with hungry eyes

2

a

: eager, avid

hungry for affection

b

: strongly motivated (as by ambition)

hungry investors

a power-hungry politician

3

: not rich or fertile : barren

a hungry soil

hungrily

ˈhəŋ-grə-lē 

adverb

hungriness

ˈhəŋ-grē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of hungry

• starving
• starved

Examples of hungry in a Sentence

There are millions of hungry people throughout the world.

That girl is always hungry.

The prisoners' families were hungry for more information.

They were hungry to learn more.

Recent Examples on the Web

On June 15, two eyewitnesses told CNN that one aid truck traveling from the crossing was swarmed by a crowd of hungry Palestinians. —Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025

State of the government Wyandotte is a community hungry for greatness, and that’s reflected in its growth, Garner said. —Kansas City Star, 3 Dec. 2025

And now the extremists want to force millions more to go hungry. —Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025

And Egg Casserole is the perfect dish to please hungry houseguests and keep them full and out of the kitchen until the Christmas meal is served. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hungrig; akin to Old English hungor

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing hungry

• go hungry

Kids Definition

hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē 

hungrier; hungriest

1

: feeling or showing hunger

2

: eager, avid

hungry for all the details

hungrily

-grə-lē 

adverb