# Jones

/ˈdʒoʊnz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jones
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a strong craving

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Informal

a very strong feeling that you want or need something immediately.

For teachers: an intense craving or addiction, originally referring to narcotics but now applied to any strong desire.

- I have a serious jones for some spicy food right now.
- After three weeks on a strict diet, he realized he had a massive jones for a double cheeseburger.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'for'.

### 2. to want something badly

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Informal

to want something very much, especially when you feel you cannot wait.

For teachers: to experience a powerful desire or physiological craving for a specific substance or experience.

- I've been jonesing for a cup of coffee all morning.
- By the end of the long flight, most of the passengers were jonesing for a chance to stretch their legs.

Usage: Typically used in the progressive 'jonesing' followed by 'for'.

### 3. a surname

noun · CEFR A1

a very common last name in English-speaking countries, especially Wales.

For teachers: a common patronymic surname of Welsh origin, meaning 'son of John'.

- Mr. Jones is the new science teacher at our school.
- The Jones family has lived in this valley for generations, dating back to the early nineteenth century.

## Examples

- I have a serious coffee jones this morning.
- After three weeks of healthy eating, he had a massive sugar jones for a chocolate bar.
- The protagonist's persistent jones for adrenaline leads him into increasingly dangerous situations that eventually alienate his closest friends and family.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.