hunger
UK: ˈhʌŋɡə | US: ˈhʌŋɡər
n. a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food
n. a strong desire or craving for something
vi. to feel or suffer from hunger
The word "hunger" traces back to Old English hungor, derived from Proto-Germanic hungraz, meaning "desire for food." The root hung- is linked to the concept of longing or craving, while the suffix -er (or earlier -or) forms abstract nouns. Over time, the word retained its core meaning of physical appetite but expanded metaphorically to describe intense desires (e.g., "hunger for knowledge").
After hiking all day, they felt a sharp hunger.
Her hunger for adventure led her to travel the world.
Many people in the region still hunger for basic necessities.
The charity aims to reduce hunger in impoverished communities.
His eyes burned with hunger when he saw the feast.