ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hungry

adj.
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈhəŋɡɹi// UK //hˈʌŋɡɹi// hun·gry General-service

adj. feeling a need or desire to eat food. You use this when your stomach feels empty and you want a meal.

adj. feeling or displaying a physiological need for food. Often used figuratively to describe a strong desire for success or achievement.


SIMPLE

I am very hungry after my long walk.

CONTEXTUAL

The children were hungry after playing outside all afternoon, so they finished their dinner quickly.

COMPLEX

The documentary highlights the plight of families in regions where millions of people remain hungry due to systemic food insecurity and prolonged drought.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English hungry, from Old English hungriġ, from Proto-West Germanic hungrug, from Proto-Germanic hungrugaz (“hungry”); equivalent to hunger + -y. Cognate with West Frisian hongerich (“hungry”), Dutch hongerig (“hungry”), German hungrig (“hungry”), Swedish hungrig (“hungry”), Icelandic hungraður (“hungry”).

Usage

Commonly follows the verb 'to be' or 'to feel'. When used figuratively, it often takes the preposition 'for'.

Idioms1 entry

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