crave
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to have a very strong desire for something, like a certain food or a feeling.
to feel a powerful or compulsive desire for something; often used with physical appetites or psychological needs.
Simple“After a long day at work, I really crave a hot bath and some peace.”
In context“Many people find that they crave sugary snacks when they are under significant stress at the office.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'for' when followed by a noun.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
to ask for something in a very serious or polite way.
to request or beg for something earnestly, typically from a person in a position of power.
Simple“I crave your indulgence for a moment while I explain my reasons.”
In context“The prisoner fell to his knees to crave the king's mercy before the sentence was carried out.”
UsageUsually transitive, taking a direct object like 'pardon' or 'attention'.
From Middle English craven, from Old English crafian (“to crave, ask, implore, demand, summon”), from Proto-West Germanic krafōn, from Proto-Germanic krafjaną (“to demand”). Cognate with Danish kræve (“to demand, require”), Swedish kräva (“to crave, demand”), Icelandic krefja (“to demand”), Norwegian kreve (“to demand”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.