rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryravenousExtreme hunger
adjective

ravenous

RAV-uh-nuhs/ˈrævənəs/

Experiencing an extreme appetite for food.

After a long hike, I'm ravenous and ready for dinner.

A very hungry young woman leans eagerly over a substantial meal, taking a large bite from a sandwich while already reaching for another piece of food.
Etymology
ravenOld Frenchto seize, pillage
+ousOld Frenchcharacterized by

The base meant “to seize or pillage,” and the adjective first described rapacious, plundering greed. That sense of fierce appetite shifted to food, giving the meaning “furiously hungry.”

In context

The After Movie Diner25:58
tee throws meat at the crocodiles and they go ravenous for the meat to begin with so you're like okay there's actual Peril here
After Movie Diner Television - A Discussion on Skyfall

More examples

  • The ravenous kids finish every slice of pizza.
  • Skipping breakfast leaves me ravenous by noon.
  • She wakes up ravenous and heads straight for the kitchen.

Forms

ravenous

ravenously adverb — With an extremely strong appetite.

ravenousness noun — The state of being extremely hungry.

Similar words

famished
Emphasizes feeling very hungry, often after missing a meal.
starving
Can imply dangerous food deprivation rather than just intense appetite.
hungry
Describes a need for food without the same intensity.