crave

verb

\ ˈkrāv

craved; craving

Definition of crave

transitive verb

1 : to ask for earnestly : beg, demand crave a pardon for neglect

2a : 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

Other Words from crave Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about crave

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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

Research shows that most people crave feedback about their work. — Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, "Tiffany Haddish went to unusual lengths to get honest feedback on her work," 30 May 2019 The clamor of people arguing over who can claim him seems to have become a staple of the steady flow of affirmation that Hemingway craved so much. — Dana Snitzky, Longreads, "Hemingway’s Last Girl," 12 July 2018 Democrats have to be GOOD, because Americans apparently crave goodness even though 60 million of them voted for Donald Trump. — Drew Magary, GQ, "This Is Why Trump Won," 14 June 2018 Surveys show that residents crave walking and biking trails, but the county is little more than one-third of the way toward its 129-mile goal for 2018. — Bruce Henderson, charlotteobserver, "Mecklenburg wanted to build 129 miles of greenways by 2018. It hasn't even come close.," 1 June 2018 It’s well-documented that millennials crave authenticity in politics — even though that standard can be a catch-22 for women. — Rebecca Nelson, Cosmopolitan, "Sara Jacobs Could Be the Youngest Congresswoman Ever," 21 Feb. 2018 With bright pastel makeup statements sweeping red carpets and Instagram feeds as of late, actress Sophie Turner has offered a refreshing alternative for lids craving creativity. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "Sophie Turner's Cool-Girl Makeup Is Straight Out of Winterfell," 15 May 2019 Customers craving breadsticks are about to feel very satisfied. — Brittany Shoot, Fortune, "Darden Restaurants to Open up to 50 New Locations," 21 June 2018 Nicole Moudaber The Mood Records head rocked more than 100 club-craving crowds in 2017, including sets at BPM in Mexico, Movement in Detroit, EXIT in Serbia and Tomorrowland in Belgium. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "Billboard Dance 100 Artists of 2018: The Complete List," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crave.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.