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

• 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

This method works, but the equipment is heavy, power-hungry and is ill-suited for long-duration missions to the moon or Mars. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Many popular EVs, like the Tesla Model Y, are heavy and energy-hungry. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025

The man is rapacious — a hungry ghost with a big mouth and an empty stomach. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025

How to prevent mosquito bites Researchers at the University of Georgia say people dressed in dark colors who are actively moving about, and those who exhale more carbon dioxide, make attractive targets for hungry female mosquitoes. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 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