WordGarden.iohungry
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈʌŋɡri/
US
- /ˈhəŋɡri/
Meanings
Adjective
wanting or needing food
strongly eager for something
Beyond the definition
To be hungry is usually about your body asking for food. It is that empty feeling in your stomach that tells you it is time to eat. A little child, after a long day of playing, might be hungry for dinner. Most of the time, the word is used in this simple, everyday way.
But "hungry" can also describe a strong wish for something else. You might be hungry for knowledge, adventure, or success. In that sense, the word means you really want something and feel ready to go after it. The feeling can be mild or strong: you might be a little hungry before lunch or starving after a whole day without food.
The word "hungry" most commonly describes the physical feeling of needing food. It is the empty feeling in your stomach that often comes with low energy or irritability. A hiker after a long walk may be hungry for a good meal, while a baby might cry when they are hungry. The feeling can be weak or strong. You might be a little hungry before dinner, or very hungry if you have not eaten all day.
However, "hungry" is also often used in a figurative way. It can describe a strong desire for something that is not food. You could be hungry for success, which means you strongly want to achieve something. A student might be hungry for knowledge, eager to learn more. An artist might be hungry for inspiration, always looking for new ideas and experiences.
This use of "hungry" suggests more than a simple wish. It shows a strong inner drive, as if something is missing until the person gets what they want. Someone who is hungry for success or change is usually not waiting quietly. They are trying to make it happen.
There are also related expressions. "The hungry years" can describe a hard time when people do not have enough to live well. A "hunger for power" means a very strong desire to control or lead. So whether it refers to food or to a deep wish for something more, to be hungry is to feel a clear and pressing need.
Examples
- 1
Missed meal
We skipped breakfast, so I was hungry by ten o'clock.
- 2
After practice
After soccer practice, the kids came home hungry and tired.
- 3
Meal timing
Let's eat now before everyone gets too hungry.
- 4
Still hungry
The salad was good, but I was still hungry afterward.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Food shortage
During the long winter, some families went hungry.
- Phrasego hungry
not have enough food to eat
- 6
Desire for change
She moved to the city because she was hungry for a change.
- Patternhungry for + something
strongly wanting it
- 7
Team ambition
The new coach has a young team that's hungry to improve.
- Patternhungry to do something
very eager to do it
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hungryadjective
Forms
- hungriercomparativeadjective
- hungriestsuperlativeadjective