Word
thirsty
US/ˈθɝsti/
UK/θˈɜːsti/
Definitions
01needing a drink
adj. feeling a need to drink something because you are dry.
adj. experiencing a physical desire or need for liquid refreshment.
“We were very thirsty after walking in the sun all afternoon.”
“The hikers arrived at the summit feeling incredibly thirsty, having exhausted their water supply hours before reaching the final ridge.”
02craving something
adj. having a strong desire for something, like power or knowledge.
adj. having a vehement or eager desire for something immaterial.
“The young student was thirsty for any information about her family history.”
“The ambitious politician appeared thirsty for power, seizing every opportunity to undermine his rivals during the televised debate.”
Literary
Antonyms
03desperate for attention
adj. acting in a way that shows you are desperate for attention or romantic interest.
adj. showing a desperate or excessive need for attention, approval, or romantic interest.
“He keeps posting gym selfies because he is thirsty for likes.”
“Her constant stream of dramatic updates made her look thirsty for validation from people she barely knew in real life.”
Slang · Informal
Usage
Often used to describe social media behaviour.
Teaching tip
This is a very modern, informal use; it is often used as a criticism of someone's social media posts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English thirsty, from Old English þurstiġ, from Proto-West Germanic *þurstug. Equivalent to thirst + -y. Cognate with Dutch dorstig, German durstig.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/thirsty