WordGarden.iothirsty
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /θˈɜːsti/
US
- /ˈθɜrsti/
Meanings
Adjective
needing or strongly wanting something to drink
having a strong desire or craving for something
(slang)slang: conspicuously eager for sexual or romantic attention, or attention-seeking in that way
Beyond the definition
We all know that feeling: a dry throat, a dry mouth, and a strong need for something to drink. That is the most common meaning of "thirsty." But it is not only about water. It can also describe someone who strongly wants something else. A musician might be "thirsty" for recognition, meaning they really want people to notice their work. Or someone might be "thirsty" for gossip, always looking for the latest news.
Think of it this way: your body becomes thirsty when it needs water to keep going. When you are "thirsty" for something else, that thing feels very important to you. A traveler in the desert is literally thirsty, while someone checking their phone again and again for likes might be figuratively "thirsty" for attention or validation.
"Thirsty" most commonly describes the physical feeling of needing water or another drink. When your body loses water through sweat, exercise, heat, or even normal breathing, you may start to feel a dry mouth and a strong need to drink. For example: "After running a marathon, she was incredibly thirsty."
But "thirsty" also has an important figurative meaning. It can describe a strong desire for something, not just a need for water. A person can be "thirsty" for success, knowledge, power, or attention. In this broader sense, the word simply suggests a deep want.
In modern slang, especially online, "thirsty" often describes someone who seems too eager for attention, affection, praise, or sexual interest. This meaning is often slightly negative. It suggests that the person is trying too hard to get noticed. For example: "He's been posting selfies all day because he's thirsty for likes."
So the word moves easily between everyday physical need and emotional or social desire. A dog panting after a run is literally thirsty. A person chasing attention online may be figuratively thirsty. In both cases, the idea is the same: there is a strong feeling of wanting something badly.
Examples
- 1
Physical need
I was really thirsty after the long bike ride.
- 2
Children
The kids always get thirsty after playing outside in the heat.
- 3
Nighttime
If you feel thirsty at night, there's a bottle of water by the bed.
- 4
Plants
These plants get thirsty quickly in direct sunlight.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Desire
She's thirsty for knowledge, so she asks a lot of questions.
- Patternthirsty for + thing
strongly wanting it
- 6
Digital messages
His last few messages sounded a little thirsty.
- Usagethirsty
informal: too eager for attention or romantic interest
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- thirstyadjective
Forms
- thirstiercomparativeadjective
- thirstiestsuperlativeadjective