Word
starving
Phoneticsstarv·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɑɹvɪŋ/
UK/stˈɑːvɪŋ/
Definitions
01very hungry
B1 · Intermediate Informal
adj. you use this when you feel very hungry and want to eat immediately.
adj. suffering from extreme hunger. Frequently used hyperbolically in informal registers to indicate a strong desire for food.
“Is dinner ready yet? I'm absolutely starving after that long walk.”
“By the time the delayed flight finally landed, the starving passengers were willing to eat almost anything from the airport vending machines.”
Pitfall
I am starving for a pizza.
I am starving. I want a pizza.
While you can be 'starving for attention', when talking about food, 'starving' is usually used alone as a state of being.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02dying from lack of food
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
adj. suffering or dying because there is not enough food to eat.
adj. suffering from or dying of hunger; experiencing the physiological effects of severe malnutrition.
“The charity sent emergency supplies to help the starving children in the war zone.”
“The documentary highlighted the plight of starving populations in regions where prolonged drought had decimated local agriculture.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the process of hunger
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the state or process of suffering from a lack of food.
n. the act or state of suffering from lack of food; the gerundial form of the verb 'starve'.
“The starving of the population was used as a cruel tactic during the siege.”
“Historians noted that the deliberate starving of political prisoners was a common practice under the previous regime.”
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. starving artist
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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