# ravenous

/ˈɹævənəs/ (US) · /ɹˈævənəs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ravenous
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

extremely hungry or thirsty. You use this to describe someone who eats or drinks very quickly and in large amounts.

For teachers: 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.

---

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.