Word
starved
US/ˈstɑɹvd/
UK/stˈɑːvd/
Definitions
01very hungry
B1 · Intermediate Informal
adj. feeling extremely hungry, often used when you have missed a meal.
adj. feeling an urgent need for food; frequently used as a colloquial hyperbole for being very hungry.
Español:hambreado
“Is dinner ready yet? I'm absolutely starved.”
“By the time the hikers reached the cabin, they were absolutely starved and immediately began preparing a massive meal.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'starved for' or 'starved of'.
Teaching tip
In everyday conversation, this is almost always an exaggeration rather than a medical description.
02lacking something vital
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not getting enough of something you need, like love, attention, or news.
adj. deprived of a non-physical necessity or a specific type of stimulation.
Español:hambreado
“The lonely puppy was starved for attention and followed us everywhere.”
“The remote village was starved of reliable information during the storm, leaving the residents to rely on local rumours.”
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'of' or 'for'.
Teaching tip
Explain to students that 'starved for' usually implies a desire for the thing, while 'starved of' focuses on the lack itself.
03suffering from hunger
C1 · Advanced Medicine Formal
adj. suffering or dying because there is not enough food to eat.
adj. suffering from extreme poverty or lack of food; emaciated due to prolonged malnutrition.
“The charity provided medical care to the starved children in the refugee camp.”
“The clinical report described the rescued animals as severely starved, requiring immediate intravenous fluids and specialized nutrition.”
Teaching tip
This literal sense is much more serious and formal than the common informal use.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Its deep water never fully turns over, leaving the bottom starved of oxygen and free of currents.” “Starved ants developed higher levels of NPF and lower levels of AstA, making them behave more like caregivers.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/starved
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0