lust

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of lustnext
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
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

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
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Noun
Marianna Gailus and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt) ably perform the others, but Jackman is stunning as a man failing to balance love and lust. Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 Yet, his lust for absolute power and control only masked what was really happening beneath the surface. Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026
Verb
The war was particularly popular among white southerners who lusted for new territory. Tyler Green, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 And then there’s Vladimir (yes, Vladimir) Nabokov’s Lolita, which sees an unnamed narrator lusting after a child. Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lust

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lust was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lust. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

lust

1 of 2 noun
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

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