thirst

noun \ ˈthərst \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of thirst

1 a : 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

See thirst defined for English-language learners

See thirst defined for kids

Examples of thirst in a Sentence

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 of thirst from the Web

Galland spent his days scouring Istanbul for literature to legitimate Louis XIV’s religious conflicts and to quench his own thirst for learning.

— jacob soll, The New Republic, "How Islam Shaped the Enlightenment," 12 Apr. 2018
Horror devotees can quench their wayward thirsts with Lucky Penny’s production of Scott Martin’s 1998 musical revue, which is about the female characters the genre loves to kill off and the B-list actors who portray them, screeches and all. 2 p.m.

— San Francisco Chronicle, "SFChronicle critics’ picks: What to do the week of April 8," 6 Apr. 2018
When Fidesz took office in 2010 it was driven by a roughly equal blend of ideology and thirst for power, says Mr Martin.

— The Economist, "The EU is tolerating—and enabling—authoritarian kleptocracy in Hungary," 5 Apr. 2018
But the region, including California and Nevada, must act to curb its thirst regardless of what the weather does, Beckwith said.

— brandon loomis, azcentral, "After dry winter, Colorado River forecasters look for 6th-driest runoff year," 4 Apr. 2018
Its laughable 11-mpg thirst is as charming as the characteristic tremor of a small-block at idle.

— eric tingwall, Car and Driver, "BMW M5 vs. Cadillac CTS-V, Mercedes-AMG E63 S, Porsche Panamera Turbo," 21 Mar. 2018
The latest Instagram makeup artist to capitalize on our apparently unquenchable thirst for making brows look like things that aren't brows is German makeup artist Lisette Scheffler (@beautylizs).

— emily wang, Allure, "This Woman Turned Her Eyebrows Into "Bow Brows," and It's Actually Pretty Cute," 3 Apr. 2018
It was formulated to address their language-processing challenges while recognizing their thirst for knowledge at a high intellectual level.

— deborah gastfreund schuss, WSJ, "Learning to Pray When Words Fail," 15 Mar. 2018
Age can be a factor as well: The body’s ability to conserve water, and its sensation for thirst, both decline over time.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "Dehydration Caused Tim McGraw to Collapse On Stage. Here's Why the Condition Is So Scary," 12 Mar. 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.

Origin and Etymology of thirst

Middle English, from Old English thurst; akin to Old High German durst thirst, Latin torrēre to dry, parch, Old Irish tart dryness, thirst, Greek tersesthai to become dry

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

thirst Synonyms

thirst

verb

Definition of thirst

intransitive verb

1 : to feel thirsty : suffer thirst

2 : to crave vehemently and urgently

thirsted for revenge

thirsting

after justice

—

thirster

noun

See thirst defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of thirst from the Web

Such distractions are thirsted for, of course, by many in the Capitol during the budget process, an always laborious process marked by late nights and severe cases of cabin fever.

— jesse mckinley, New York Times, "We Interrupt These Budget Talks for a Reporter’s Arrest and a Coyote," 28 Mar. 2018
That includes perhaps putting Iran back on a path to developing nuclear weapons and thus starting not just the war that Mr Bolton has long thirsted for, but also a helter-skelter of proliferation in a volatile region close to Europe.

— The Economist, "The deal that curtails Iran’s nuclear ambitions seems doomed," 28 Mar. 2018
But researchers thirst for the next big thing—the discovery that would take progress on battery tech from a crawl to a sprint.

— tom parrett, Newsweek, "Batteries That Will Save the Planet," 13 Dec. 2014
Like his precursor, the Whatsitsname is an existentially bereft soul thirsting to make sense of his existence, ultimately by exacting revenge on his maker.

— The Economist, "War babyFrankenstein and the war in Iraq," 15 Feb. 2018
Alabama's junior forward walked off the floor at Coleman Coliseum like a rock star Tuesday, leaving a reel of highlights in his wake and an audience thirsting for more.

— rainer sabin, AL.com, "How Donta Hall has become the next big thing at Alabama," 13 Feb. 2018
As the Watergate scandal drip-dripped into the public square, overwhelming evidence of guilt accumulated, and the media thirsted for the president’s political blood, his approval rating plunged.

— david french, National Review, "Trump’s Impeachment Prospects Have Little to Do with the Law," 7 Jan. 2018
Cuban is an advocate for those fans thirsting for more New Japan.

— justin barrasso, SI.com, "Week in Wrestling: Mark Cuban on Vince McMahon and New Japan Pro Wrestling," 13 Dec. 2017
Liquor stores have prevailed despite being outnumbered 2-to-1 by convenience stores thirsting to sell cold beer and despite being dwarfed by the big-box national retail chains with an interest in lifting the Sunday alcohol sales ban.

— robert king, Indianapolis Star, "A potent brew: Money, muscle and back-slapping protect liquor store grip on cold beer," 20 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of thirst

before 12th century

Synonym Discussion of thirst

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

THIRST Defined for English Language Learners

thirst

noun

Definition of thirst for English Language Learners

: an uncomfortable feeling that is caused by the need for something to drink
: a very great need for something to drink
: a strong desire for something

thirst

verb

Definition of thirst for English Language Learners

: to have or feel a strong desire

THIRST Defined for Kids

thirst

noun \ ˈthərst \

Definition of thirst for Students

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

Definition of thirst for Students

thirsted; thirsting

1 : to feel a need for liquids

2 : to have a strong desire

They thirst for freedom.

Medical Dictionary

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