hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē How to pronounce hungry (audio)
hungrier; hungriest
Synonyms of hungry
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
ˈhəŋ-grə-lē How to pronounce hungry (audio)
adverb
hungriness
ˈhəŋ-grē-nəs How to pronounce hungry (audio)
noun

Synonyms of hungry

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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.
Switches made from wide-bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide could handle far higher voltages than silicon, and the EV industry’s appetite for these materials began driving the cost down just as a hungrier customer arrived. — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Big tech firms in the US are pouring billions into advanced nuclear power to feed energy-hungry artificial intelligence. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 The Dodgers needed a healthy Ohtani to deal with a young, hungry ballclub like the Brewers. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 The processors running inside AI data centers generate huge amounts of heat, typically requiring massive power- and water-hungry systems to keep them cool. — Drew Robb, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing hungry

Browse Nearby Words

hungriness
hungry
hungry rice
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hungry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hungry. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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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
-grə-lē How to pronounce hungry (audio)
adverb
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