Hunger for Meaning in English
expression
ˈhəŋɡɝ/ /ˈfɔɹ/, /fɝ/, /fɹɝ
HUNG-ger for / HUNG-ger fer / HUNG-ger frer
hˈʌŋɡɐ/ /fˈɔː
HUNG-guh faw
Definition
To have a very strong desire or craving for something, like success, knowledge, or power. It suggests a deep emotional or mental need, not literal food hunger.
Usage & Nuances
Always figurative—describes emotional or mental longing, not physical hunger. Common with abstract nouns: 'hunger for success', 'hunger for love'. More intense than just 'want'. Formal and literary, less common in everyday speech than 'crave' or 'long for'.
Spanish: ansiar - tener ansias de - tener hambre de (figurado)Portuguese (BR): ansiar - ter sede de - ter fome de (figurado)Portuguese (PT): ansiar - ter sede de - ter fome de (figurado)Chinese (Simplified): 渴望 - 极度想要Chinese (Traditional): 渴望 - 極度想要Hindi: की तीव्र इच्छा रखना - तरसनाArabic: يتوق إلى - يشتهي (بشدة)Bengali: তীব্র আকাঙ্ক্ষা করা - প্রবল ইচ্ছা করাRussian: жаждать - испытывать жажду (чего-либо)Japanese: 強く求める - 渇望するVietnamese: khao khát - ao ước mãnh liệtKorean: 갈구하다 - 열망하다Turkish: özlem duymak - istemek (şiddetli şekilde)Urdu: شدید خواہش کرنا - تڑپناIndonesian: mendambakan - sangat menginginkan
Example Sentences
He has a hunger for knowledge.
basic
Many people hunger for love and acceptance.
basic
She hungers for adventure.
basic
After years in a boring job, he hungered for a real challenge.
natural
Teens often hunger for independence from their parents.
natural
With each setback, her hunger for success only grew stronger.
natural