1
a
: a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient
b
: an uneasy sensation occasioned by the lack of food
The small meal wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger.
c
: a weakened condition brought about by prolonged lack of food
died of hunger
2
: a strong desire : craving
a hunger for success
hungered; hungering
ˈhəŋ-g(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to feel or suffer hunger (see hunger entry 1)
feasting while the poor hunger
2
: to have an eager desire
The nation hungers for a strong leader.
: to make hungry
Phrases
from hunger
: very bad or inept
the jokes were from hunger—
Mordecai Richler
Mordecai RichlerSynonyms
Noun
Verb
Examples of hunger in a Sentence
Noun
She has been a leader in the fight against world hunger.
One sandwich wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger.
Her students have a genuine hunger for knowledge.
Recent Examples on the WebNurith Aizenman, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
The non-profit, which advances initiatives aimed at ending world hunger, also appointed philanthropist Jimmy Zankel to the board.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Additionally, fiber is great for gut health, slowing digestion, helping one feel full, staying satisfied longer, and controlling hunger levels.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 18 Apr. 2024
Debbie Foley, 56, of Los Angeles, said her hunger levels have gone up since she’s had to lower her dosage of Mounjaro over the past two months, unable to fill her usual prescription.
—Jessica Herzberg, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Although hunger and weight gain are typical during pregnancy, these women say that the intensity of their symptoms is unlike that of their previous pregnancies.
—Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
That prompts the release of another hormone, ghrelin, that triggers feelings of hunger.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Aid officials said plans were discussed but little has changed on the ground, as most of the population suffers crisis levels of hunger.
—Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
International pressure to reach a ceasefire deal is mounting as the devastation and suffering in Gaza from Israel’s blockade on aid and widespread destruction of the strip worsens and half the population live with catastrophic levels of hunger.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024
Having helped put Barry behind bars, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) can't suppress his outsized ego, which hungers more for glory than justice.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2023
But there were many, many people who wanted what WFB had to offer, and even hungered for it.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
The problem for the diminishing few in the Republican Party who hunger for responsible conservative governance is that these MAGA Media celebrities are leading the GOP down a path of isolation, which could ultimately result in its irrelevance with the rest of society.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024
Tom was of course not a nincompoop, but a serious, thoughtful person who hungered to add substance to sketch comedy.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2023
But both DeSantis and Newsom are ambitious politicians who hunger for publicity.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Ever an innovator, McCraney is looking for ways to revitalize not only his own writing practice but the creative practice of theater artists like him who are hungering for new models, new modes of inspiration and new mechanisms of support.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2023
The supercharged mood on that occasion, inside the state’s two biggest fan bases, each of which had hungered so long not just for recognition and respect for their school, but for opportunity, was dynamic.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 July 2023
Noun
In an increasing number of hunger crises, aid workers who can provide that kind of specialized care are unable to get in due to ongoing conflicts.
—Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
The non-profit, which advances initiatives aimed at ending world hunger, also appointed philanthropist Jimmy Zankel to the board.
—Marc Schneider, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Additionally, fiber is great for gut health, slowing digestion, helping one feel full, staying satisfied longer, and controlling hunger levels.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 18 Apr. 2024
Debbie Foley, 56, of Los Angeles, said her hunger levels have gone up since she’s had to lower her dosage of Mounjaro over the past two months, unable to fill her usual prescription.
—Jessica Herzberg, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Although hunger and weight gain are typical during pregnancy, these women say that the intensity of their symptoms is unlike that of their previous pregnancies.
—Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
That prompts the release of another hormone, ghrelin, that triggers feelings of hunger.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Aid officials said plans were discussed but little has changed on the ground, as most of the population suffers crisis levels of hunger.
—Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
International pressure to reach a ceasefire deal is mounting as the devastation and suffering in Gaza from Israel’s blockade on aid and widespread destruction of the strip worsens and half the population live with catastrophic levels of hunger.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Arizona Food Bank Network, Phoenix, $25,000 To deliver 50 million pounds of fresh, nutritious produce, much of which would otherwise be wasted, to hunger relief organizations across Arizona.
—Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024
Having helped put Barry behind bars, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) can't suppress his outsized ego, which hungers more for glory than justice.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2023
But there were many, many people who wanted what WFB had to offer, and even hungered for it.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
The problem for the diminishing few in the Republican Party who hunger for responsible conservative governance is that these MAGA Media celebrities are leading the GOP down a path of isolation, which could ultimately result in its irrelevance with the rest of society.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024
Tom was of course not a nincompoop, but a serious, thoughtful person who hungered to add substance to sketch comedy.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2023
But both DeSantis and Newsom are ambitious politicians who hunger for publicity.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023
Ever an innovator, McCraney is looking for ways to revitalize not only his own writing practice but the creative practice of theater artists like him who are hungering for new models, new modes of inspiration and new mechanisms of support.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2023
The supercharged mood on that occasion, inside the state’s two biggest fan bases, each of which had hungered so long not just for recognition and respect for their school, but for opportunity, was dynamic.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hunger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hunger
Cite this Entry
“Hunger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hunger. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hunger
2 of 2 verb
hungered; hungering
-g(ə-)riŋ
1
: to feel or suffer hunger
2
: to have an eager desire
hungered for affection
Medical Definition
hunger
noun
hun·ger
ˈhəŋ-gər
1
: a craving, desire, or urgent need for food
2
: an uneasy sensation occasioned normally by the lack of food and resulting directly from stimulation of the sensory nerves of the stomach by the contraction and churning movement of the empty stomach
3
: a weakened disordered condition brought about by prolonged lack of food
die of hunger
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