peckish

adjective

peck·​ish ˈpe-kish 

1

chiefly British : hungry

2

: crotchety

Synonyms of peckish

• hungry
• starving
• starved

Examples of peckish in a Sentence

If you're feeling peckish, there's some cheese in the fridge.

a peckish tone of voice

Recent Examples on the Web

Those feeling peckish can grab a bite to eat from food vendors selling everything from traditional to not-so-traditional fixings, Doyle said. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Back upstairs, peckish guests can glimpse the bakers in The Pie Room, where various savory pies are baked fresh in the morning, and then served on site and for takeaway. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Not peckish, not in need of a little boost—hungry, immediately and completely, hunger as urgent as any alarm clock. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026

Protein, fats, and fiber are key to keeping you full, so a meal low on those vital nutrients could leave you feeling peckish before long. — Caroline Tien, SELF, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

peck entry 2

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1