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

Tommy disburses stuffings and sauces to hungry locals as the GIs seduced their grandmothers with Camels and nylon stockings. —Dominic Green, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026

The sequel significantly expands the scope of the original film’s story, moving from a single deadly night with one family into a much larger and more dangerous world of power-hungry rivals. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026

Far from being hungry and spending most of our resources on food, mankind has never had to work fewer hours to pay for his bread. —Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026

Now in its third year, hungry readers with a voracious literary appetite can visit more than three dozen of central Indiana's coziest bookstores, score a cool bookmark and possibly win a prize or two. —Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 19 Mar. 2026

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