lust

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of lustnext
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
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
After the pair consummate their fragrant lust, the Gravedigger is ready to settle down right away. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026 But between strutting around like a rock god, Michael presented nuanced and sophisticated looks at lust. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
And then there’s Vladimir (yes, Vladimir) Nabokov’s Lolita, which sees an unnamed narrator lusting after a child. Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026 Lace-y Things Nothing says love and lust quite like lace, right? Eva Thomas, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lust

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lust was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lust. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

lust

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on lust

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster