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

Decades of dirty tricks, oceans of money in politics and machine politicking have left voters jaded and disillusioned, craving basic authenticity and good faith from their candidates. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

Granted, people don’t usually crave Seattle teriyaki for its subtlety; add a dose of the house chili oil for texture and kick. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Set up a toppings bar Let guests customize their servings by putting flavorful toppings on the side, and offering nutrient dense options that still give the texture people crave, Malhotra and Dominguez suggest. — Nicole Kwan, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026

Make sure to leave time for all the museums, live music, and ambiance-forward restaurants your heart craves. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 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