lust

1 of 2

noun

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
Intuiting that her lust for vendetta is a more effective lever to pull than, say, June’s political commitments or even her guilt, Joseph brings up Serena Joy’s fairy-tale wedding. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2025 All the players corroborate a truism: Politics attracts deformed personalities featuring an insatiable lust of power for the sake of power to fuel self-esteem. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Verb
Catherine and Freddie, Season 1 Who knew this show would have all of us lusting after a funeral director? Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 5 May 2025 Accordingly, there are some tense moments, but mostly A League of Their Own concerns lusting after a young Tom Hanks and watching Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell run around in period softball costumes—a.k.a. instant serotonin. Emma Specter, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2025 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 13 May. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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