ravenous

adjective

rav·​en·​ous ˈra-və-nəs How to pronounce ravenous (audio)
ˈrav-nəs
1
: rapacious
ravenous wolves
2
: very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification
a ravenous appetite
ravenously adverb
ravenousness noun

Did you know?

ravishing or ravenous?

Ravenous and ravishing are not synonyms, and mixing these two words may lead to potentially awkward writing or conversation. Ravenous is commonly used with the meaning “very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification,” and ravishing means “unusually attractive, pleasing, or striking.” If you find yourself hungry and standing in front of a spectacular-looking meal you would say (of the food) “that looks ravishing,” and (of yourself) “I am ravenous.” You may, of course, describe yourself as ravishing, but should be aware that you are commenting on your appearance rather than your hunger.

Choose the Right Synonym for ravenous

voracious, gluttonous, ravenous, rapacious mean excessively greedy.

voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink.

teenagers are often voracious eaters

gluttonous applies to one who delights in eating or acquiring things especially beyond the point of necessity or satiety.

an admiral who was gluttonous for glory

ravenous implies excessive hunger and suggests violent or grasping methods of dealing with food or with whatever satisfies an appetite.

a nation with a ravenous lust for territorial expansion

rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

Examples of ravenous in a Sentence

By the time dinner was ready, we were ravenous. we were ravenous after our canoe paddling, and the chili bubbling over the campfire smelled heavenly
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.
Fans became so ravenous that multiple guests drove hours for a taste, sometimes visiting from other states, only to find no physical space for dining. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025 That was part of what made the press so ravenous to have at her. Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025 In the film, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, all while balancing their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2025 This is epic fantasy set in a big world with a mysterious past (as well as a ravenous fungal ghost plague!). Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ravenous

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ravynous, raveynous, from ravyn, raveyn "robbery, rapacity" + -ous -ous — more at ravin

Note: Alternatively, and perhaps more likely, ravynous, etc., may be a derivative of an unattested Middle English verb—see the note at raven entry 3.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ravenous was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Ravenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ravenous. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

ravenous

adjective
rav·​en·​ous ˈrav-(ə-)nəs How to pronounce ravenous (audio)
: very eager for food or satisfaction
ravenously adverb
ravenousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ravenous

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