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

Since 2005, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has hosted culinary aficionados and hungry area residents in the yearly weeklong event. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Dec. 2025

Hers is a more catholic church, one that must seat Mennonite moms, gay professors, searching teenagers, soccer dads, sarcastic childless women like Mel, and hungry art monsters like Liz. —Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025

Audiences, especially younger ones, came out of lockdown hungry for something real. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Dec. 2025

Losing your appetite or feeling hungry all the time can both be warning signs of depression. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 Dec. 2025

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