thirst

noun

\ ˈthərst

Definition of thirst

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids also : the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensation

b : a desire or need to drink

2 : an ardent desire : craving, longing a thirst for success

thirst

verb

thirsted; thirsting; thirsts

Definition of thirst (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to feel thirsty : suffer thirst

2 : to crave vehemently and urgently thirsted for revenge thirsting after justice

Other Words from thirst Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about thirst

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Choose the Right Synonym for thirst

Verb

long, yearn, hanker, pine, hunger, thirst mean to have a strong desire for something. long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain. longed for some rest yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing. yearned for a stage career hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire. always hankering for money pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible. pined for a lost love hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need. hungered for a business of his own thirsted for power

Examples of thirst in a Sentence

Noun

his thirst for knowledge is evident in his book-filled house an unquenchable thirst for travel that has led her to the far corners of the globe

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The fast pace of change in this field provided me the perfect opportunity to combine my thirst for continuous learning with my natural desires to gravitate toward new challenges. — Detroit Free Press, "She’s gotta have IT: Closing the gender gap in MI’s booming tech industry," 3 July 2019 Eat and drink: Hang out in the small tap room at the Telluride Brewing Co. with a glass of Whacked Out Wheat, an award-winning brew that’s light enough to quench your thirst. — Jeanine Barone, The Know, "Ride your bike on these Colorado railroad routes without fear of being run over by a train," 2 July 2019 Despite their thirst for runs, the A’s also elected to skip outdoor batting practice before Friday’s game. — Dan Arritt/correspondent, The Mercury News, "A’s slugger Khris Davis out of lineup with sore hand," 28 June 2019 Brown landscapes turn green, dusts become muds, cracks turn into mouths through which the earth slakes its thirst. — The Economist, "The South Asian monsoon, past, present and future," 27 June 2019 Quench your thirst with a glass of beer from top American breweries, including Chicago’s own Moody Tongue, Local Option, Goose Island, Pipeworks, and Burnt City. — Necee Regis, BostonGlobe.com, "Here, there, and everywhere," 11 June 2019 His numerous victories on the water and in business never fully quenched his thirst for improvement. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Innovator North always pushed the envelope, but ‘wasn’t afraid to fail’," 5 June 2019 Even far from the throngs of urban downtowns, our thirst for light is claiming lives. — Babak Tafreshi, National Geographic, "Our nights are getting brighter, and Earth is paying the price," 3 Apr. 2019 The show's Graboids' World theme park more closely resembles an aging regional destination than Disney World, and even the local cafe probably regrets changing its name to an inevitable Instagram thirst trap, Grab-A-Coffee. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "Kevin Bacon shares the Tremors TV pilot—Val is washed, Graboids are hungry," 9 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

For Angels fans who thirst for postseason baseball, these are meager offerings. — Andy Mccullough, latimes.com, "You know what that Angels’ sweep of the Dodgers meant? Not much," 12 June 2019 And yes, there are people in the world who only thirst for clean water, frozen or not. — Leslie Anne Tarabella, al.com, "An icy lesson of contentment," 18 June 2019 The cast moment was absolutely adorable, but also left me thirsting for more Sabrina drama. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "There Was a "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Love Triangle on the 2019 MTV Movie Awards Red Carpet," 16 June 2019 That evening, Cyrus and her man wore black Saint Laurent outfits while thirsting over each other on the red carpet. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Miley Cyrus Trolls Breakup Rumors and Wished Liam Hemsworth a Happy Anniversary," 12 June 2019 Moutai’s sudden descent into its cups will shock foreigners who have thirsted for the stock in recent years, looking for a way to play the growing wealth and clout of Chinese consumers. — Andrew Peaple, WSJ, "It’s Time for Moutai Investors to Hit the Bottle," 29 Oct. 2018 In what was probably its least unexpected ruling, written by the least unexpected justice, the Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a blow to public workers for which the right wing has been thirsting for decades. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "With Janus ruling, Supreme Court seals a 40-year campaign to eviscerate worker rights," 27 June 2018 But even though the fans started de-thirsting early, and leaned on the cerveza fria to combat the sun that was already blazing when the match started at 8 a.m., the crowd was super mellow. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "Fans party at Avaya Stadium as they watch Mexico beat South Korea," 23 June 2018 Every bartender is now a mixologist, serving artisanal cocktails (heavy on cassis) to anyone thirsting for a Runny-Nosed Has-Been. — Steve Rushin, SI.com, "How the World Has Changed in the 25 Years Since the Final Cheers Episode," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thirst.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near thirst

Statistics for thirst

Last Updated

13 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for thirst

The first known use of thirst was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for thirst

thirst

noun

English Language Learners Definition of thirst

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an uncomfortable feeling that is caused by the need for something to drink

: a very great need for something to drink

literary : a strong desire for something

thirst

verb

English Language Learners Definition of thirst (Entry 2 of 2)

literary : to have or feel a strong desire

See the full definition for thirst in the English Language Learners Dictionary

thirst

noun

\ ˈthərst

Kids Definition of thirst

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat that accompanies a need for liquids

2 : the bodily condition that produces thirst die of thirst

3 : a strong desire a thirst for knowledge

thirst

verb

thirsted; thirsting

Kids Definition of thirst (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to feel a need for liquids

2 : to have a strong desire They thirst for freedom.

thirst

noun

\ ˈthərst

Medical Definition of thirst

: a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat associated with a desire for liquids also : the bodily condition (as of dehydration) that induces this sensation