lust

1 of 2

noun

ˈləst 

1

: usually intense or unbridled sexual desire : lasciviousness

He was motivated more by lust than by love.

2

a

: an intense longing : craving

a lust to succeed

b

: enthusiasm, eagerness

admired his lust for life

3

obsolete

a

: pleasure, delight

b

: personal inclination : wish

lust

2 of 2

verb

lusted; lusting; lusts

intransitive verb

: to have an intense desire or need : crave

specifically : to have a sexual urge

Synonyms of lust

Noun

• passion
• lustfulness
• eroticism
• eros
• concupiscence

Verb

• crave
• pine (for)
• want
• pant (after)
• long (for)
• die (for)
• hanker (for or after)
• repine (for)
• wish (for)
• hunger (for)
• sigh (for)
• thirst (for)
• yen (for)
• itch (for)
• salivate (for)
• jones (for)

Examples of lust in a Sentence

Noun

He was consumed by lust.

He was driven by a lust for power.

Lust for chocolate drew her into the candy store.

Verb

I'm lusting after that new SUV

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And that sort of documentary hunt, or documentary vibe, or documentary lust for presence is still a main thing for me. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 31 July 2026

Every Sunday is just a demolition derby, masked by metal and our feverish collective, institutionalized blood lust. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 July 2026

Verb

Here was a brainy, confident bombshell who couldn’t be treated like a disposable plaything — a type of actor Hollywood has lusted for since those earlier black-and-white classics but usually mishandles. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

The mystery of love and even lust in a long-term relationship is a completely different mystery than the mystery of a new and sudden lust, and deserves its own story. — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 26 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German lust pleasure and perhaps to Latin lascivus wanton

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lust

• lust for life

Rhymes for lust

• bused
• bust
• crust
• cussed
• dust
• fussed
• fust
• gust
• just
• maist
• mussed
• must

Kids Definition

lust

1 of 2 noun

ˈləst 

1

: sexual desire especially if strong or uncontrolled

2

: a strong longing : craving

lust

2 of 2 verb

: to have a strong desire : crave

especially : to have a strong sexual desire