Word
ravenous
Phoneticsrav·en·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹævənəs/
UK/ɹˈævənəs/
Definition
adj. extremely hungry or thirsty. You use this to describe someone who eats or drinks very quickly and in large amounts.
adj. extremely hungry or thirsty; having an insatiable appetite. Often used figuratively to describe a strong desire for something other than food.
Examples
“The children were ravenous after playing outside all afternoon.”
“After a long hike through the mountains, the hikers were ravenous and devoured the sandwiches in seconds.”
“The audience was ravenous for the latest news, gathering outside the courthouse every morning to hear the latest developments in the high-profile trial.”
Examples
simple
“The children were ravenous after playing outside all afternoon.”
contextual
“After a long hike through the mountains, the hikers were ravenous and devoured the sandwiches in seconds.”
complex
“The audience was ravenous for the latest news, gathering outside the courthouse every morning to hear the latest developments in the high-profile trial.”
Real-World Examples
“By the time that landed on the table at 9 o'clock at night I was absolutely ravenous.” Etymology
From Middle English ravenous, ravynous, from Old French ravineus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/ravenous