Hungry

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhʌŋ.ɡɹi/

Origin

From Middle English hungry, from Old English hungriġ, hungreġ ("hungry, famishing; meager"), from Proto-Germanic *hungragaz, *hungrugaz ("hungry"), equivalent to hunger + -y. Cognate with Dutch hongerig ("hungry"), German hungrig ("hungry"), Swedish hungrig ("hungry").

Full definition of hungry

Adjective

1. Affected by hunger; desiring of food; having a physical need for food.My kids go to bed hungry every night because I haven't got any money.
2. (figuratively) Eager, having an avid desire ('appetite') for something.
• Charles KingsleyThe cruel, hungry foam.
• ShakespeareCassius has a lean and hungry look.
3. Not rich or fertile; poor; barren; starved.a hungry soil
• ShakespeareThe hungry beach.

Synonyms

• (affected by hunger, desiring food) famished, peckish starving

Derived terms