hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē How to pronounce hungry (audio)
hungrier; hungriest
1
a
: feeling an uneasy or painful sensation from lack of food : feeling hunger
b
: characterized by or characteristic of hunger or appetite
a wolf with hungry eyes
2
a
: eager, avid
hungry for affection
b
: strongly motivated (as by ambition)
hungry investors
a power-hungry politician
3
: not rich or fertile : barren
a hungry soil
hungrily adverb
hungriness noun

Examples of hungry in a Sentence

There are millions of hungry people throughout the world. That girl is always hungry. The prisoners' families were hungry for more information. They were hungry to learn more.
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.
The minds behind Hungry Minds are just that — hungry. Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Before his Top Gun fame, Powell was also the go-to chef at University of Texas tailgates, serving up wings and brisket for his hungry friends. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 2 Apr. 2025 Like many of these greats, Isak will be hungry for more. Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025 The title, which will come out twice a year, is an offshoot of 10 Magazine USA, which launched in 2023 under editor in chief Dora Fung, who believes that U.S. readers are hungry for men’s fashion, and local brands are eager to speak to them. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hungry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hungrig; akin to Old English hungor

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hungry was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hungry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hungry. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hungry

adjective
hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē How to pronounce hungry (audio)
hungrier; hungriest
1
: feeling or showing hunger
2
: eager, avid
hungry for all the details
hungrily adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on hungry

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