hungry

/ˈhʌŋɡri/ (bre, ipa) · [hˈʌŋɡri] /ˈhʌŋɡri/ (ame, ipa) · [hˈʌŋɡri] /ˈhəŋ-grē/ (ame, mw)

hungry — adjective

  • hungrypositive
  • hungriercomparative
  • hungriestsuperlative

1. feeling a need to eat because your body requires food — for example, after not e

1.形容詞A1
釋義

feeling a need to eat because your body requires food — for example, after not eating for several hours.

例句

After the long hike, Erik felt very hungry and ate two sandwiches.

feel hungry + result clause

The children were so hungry that they finished dinner in five minutes.

so hungry that + result

同義詞
  • ravenous

    extremely hungry, sounds stronger than hungry

  • famished

    very hungry, often used for dramatic effect

  • starving

    informal; very hungry (not literally dying of starvation)

反義詞
  • full

    having eaten enough food

  • stuffed

    informal; having eaten too much

用法筆記

Often used with feel, get, or become to describe the physical state. The attributive position (a hungry child) is also very common.

常見錯誤

❌I am anger.
✅I am angry.
💡hungry is an adjective, not a noun. Do not say 'I am hunger.'

2. wanting something very much, especially something that is not food — such as pow

2.形容詞B2
釋義

wanting something very much, especially something that is not food — such as power, knowledge, success, or attention.

例句

The company is hungry for new talent to help expand its business.

hungry for + [desired thing]

After years abroad, Eve was hungry for news from her hometown.

hungry for news / information

同義詞
  • eager

    keen and excited about something; less intense than hungry

  • avid

    very enthusiastic, often for a hobby or interest

  • thirsty for

    same structure and meaning, common with knowledge or power

  • greedy for

    similar but negative connotation of wanting too much

反義詞

文法句型

hungry + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Always followed by for + noun phrase. The desire here is abstract — power, success, knowledge, attention, change, etc. Do not use this sense for physical food needs.

常見錯誤

❌She is hungry of success.
✅She is hungry for success.
💡use for, not of, after hungry in this sense.
❌I am hungry to meet you.
✅I am eager to meet you.
💡hungry for expresses a desire for a thing, not an action.

3. used after another noun to form adjectives describing someone who wants that thi

3.形容詞B2
釋義

used after another noun to form adjectives describing someone who wants that thing very strongly — for example, a power-hungry person wants power above all else.

例句

The power-hungry general seized control of the government in a coup.

power-hungry — compounds from desire for power

Critics called the CEO greedy and money-hungry after the layoffs.

money-hungry — desire for wealth

同義詞
  • -crazy

    informal British; similar compound pattern (e.g. football-crazy)

  • -obsessed

    more negative; suggests an unhealthy fixation

文法句型

[noun] + hungry

用法筆記

The pattern [noun] + hungry is very productive in informal and journalistic English. Common compounds include power-hungry, money-hungry, fame-hungry, attention-hungry, success-hungry. These are hyphenated compound adjectives.