# starving

/ˈstɑɹvɪŋ/ (US) · /stˈɑːvɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/starving
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. dying from lack of food

adjective · CEFR B2

suffering or dying because there is not enough food to eat.

For teachers: suffering from extreme malnutrition or dying due to a lack of essential nutrients.

- The charity is sending emergency supplies to help the starving children in the region.
- International aid agencies warned that without immediate intervention, thousands of starving refugees would perish before the end of the winter season.

### 3. the process of starvation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of suffering from a lack of food.

For teachers: the state or process of suffering from extreme hunger; the gerundial form of the verb 'starve'.

- The starving of the population was used as a cruel tactic during the long war.
- The report detailed the systematic starving of political prisoners, highlighting a grave violation of international human rights standards.

## Examples

- I haven't eaten all day and I am starving.
- The hikers were starving by the time they finally reached the mountain cabin for dinner.

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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.