hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē 

hungrier; hungriest

1

a

: feeling an uneasy or painful sensation from lack of food : feeling hunger

b

: characterized by or characteristic of hunger or appetite

a wolf with hungry eyes

2

a

: eager, avid

hungry for affection

b

: strongly motivated (as by ambition)

hungry investors

a power-hungry politician

3

: not rich or fertile : barren

a hungry soil

hungrily

ˈhəŋ-grə-lē 

adverb

hungriness

ˈhəŋ-grē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of hungry

• starving
• starved

Examples of hungry in a Sentence

There are millions of hungry people throughout the world.

That girl is always hungry.

The prisoners' families were hungry for more information.

They were hungry to learn more.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fans of franchises are hungry for products that celebrate and show off their favorite characters or movie moments. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026

Our community is curious, ambitious, intellectually hungry — a group of lifelong learners who want to understand the world and their place in it more deeply. —Daphne Koller, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026

That kept investors hungry for more, even as its subsequent funds didn’t replicate that performance, with rates of return between 7% and 13%. —Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Home to a bounty of cookbooks, plus author talks, cooking classes, and clubs, these five Southern stores promise to leave you hungry for more—in the best way. —Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hungrig; akin to Old English hungor

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hungry

• go hungry

Kids Definition

hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē 

hungrier; hungriest

1

: feeling or showing hunger

2

: eager, avid

hungry for all the details

hungrily

-grə-lē 

adverb