craving

noun crav·ing \ ˈkrā-viŋ \

Definition of craving

:an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing

a craving for chocolate

a craving for new experiences

See craving defined for English-language learners

See craving defined for kids

Examples of craving in a Sentence

I had a sudden craving for french fries, so I pulled into the nearest fast-food restaurant.
a pregnant woman with a craving for pickles

Recent Examples of craving from the Web

Prediction: Grand Prairie 23, Haltom 20 Irving Nimitz at Keller Timber Creek, 11 a.m. Saturday, Keller ISD Athletic Complex, Keller: The taste of success can create a craving.

— the lonnquist notes, by kevin lonnquist, star-telegram, "Who will win Friday night? Weekly high school football picks are back," 28 Aug. 2017
Another month, another week doubled over in pain from cramps, another craving for an abnormal amount of chocolate.

— beth anne macaluso, Redbook, "What Your Period Says About Your Health As You Get Older," 9 Aug. 2017
They are expected to present assignments during the group sessions, and are encourage to explore the triggers that precipitate cravings and urges, Kahler said.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Harford jail unit aids inmates serious about recovery from addiction," 7 Aug. 2017
With this dose of methadone, individually calibrated to alleviate cravings without producing a high, these inmates have been spared the torment of detox — a painful process that includes diarrhea, insomnia, severe cramping and hallucinations.

— timothy williams, New York Times, "Opioid Users Are Filling Jails. Why Don’t Jails Treat Them?," 4 Aug. 2017
Adults in the capital are forced to share their homes with strangers far beyond their student years, meaning that their first place can sometimes be so alienating it leaves them with a craving for, rather than a feeling of, home.

— jessica brown, Longreads, "Searching London for My ‘Third Place’," 18 July 2017
Under golden arches isn't the only place to satisfy your craving though--Birmingham has an abundance of French fry options in every shape, form, and flavor.

— julia sayers, AL.com, "National French Fry Day: Where to get the best fries in town," 13 July 2017
The drugs limit cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction (heroin addicts, by contrast, require ever-greater doses of the drug).

— The Economist, "What would Hippocrates do?Most people addicted to opioids receive no treatment," 13 July 2017
There may be something to temporarily blocking sense of smell in obese people to knock out food cravings or overeating, the researchers said.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "Some Mice Got Fat from Just Smelling Food, So Now Smelling Unhealthy Food Is Bad," 12 July 2017

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