crave

verb

ˈkrāv 

craved; craving

transitive verb

1

: to ask for earnestly : beg, demand

crave a pardon for neglect

2

a

: to want greatly : need

craves drugs

craves attention

b

: to yearn for

crave a vanished youth

intransitive verb

: to have a strong or inward desire

craves after affection

craver noun

Synonyms of crave

• want
• enjoy
• desire

Choose the Right Synonym for crave

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for.

desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

Examples of crave in a Sentence

Like many celebrities, he craves attention.

I was craving french fries, so I pulled into the nearest fast-food restaurant.

Recent Examples on the Web

His plays — rife with explorations of deep humanity and emotion — provide not just a framework for hanging many different worlds upon his words, but also the kind of complex characters and twisted tales that actors and filmmakers crave, whether tragedy, romance or comedy. —Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

Whatever folks are craving, Haider said there’s something for everyone. —Jenna Thompson april 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026

Saturday is a chance to win the hearts of fans craving cleaner, more exciting football after Billy Napier’s four seasons. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026

Still, the perpetually unfulfilled Homelander craves utter devotion, which means ending Starlight herself and arresting every single Starlighter. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English crafian; akin to Old Norse krefja to crave, demand

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for crave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave
• shave

Kids Definition

crave

verb

ˈkrāv 

craved; craving

1

: to ask earnestly : beg

crave a person's pardon

2

: to have a strong desire for

crave a glass of water

crave affection