Is hungry a formal word?

No. Hungry is a very common everyday word.

What is the difference between hungry and starving?

Hungry is normal. Starving is stronger and often used informally.

Can hungry describe feelings, not food?

Yes. It can mean eager, ambitious, or strongly wanting something.

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hungry

/ˈhʌŋ.ɡri/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

If you are hungry, you need or want food because your body needs it. It can also mean eager for something, like success or knowledge.

I'm hungry after the long journey.
The children were hungry for lunch.
She is hungry for success.

Adinary Nuance

Hungry is the everyday word for needing food. It is simpler and more common than ravenous, which means very hungry. In figurative use, hungry can mean eager or ambitious, like hungry for knowledge.

In other languages

Vietnamese: đói
Spanish: hambriento
Chinese: 饿
Japanese: お腹が空いた
Korean: 배고픈

Etymology

Hungry comes from Old English hungrig, related to the noun hunger. It has been used in English since before 1000.

Common phrases

hungry for foodhungry for knowledgehungry eyesgo hungry

Synonyms

famished peckish starving

Related words

hunger appetite thirsty eager

Frequently asked questions

Is hungry a formal word?: No. Hungry is a very common everyday word.
What is the difference between hungry and starving?: Hungry is normal. Starving is stronger and often used informally.
Can hungry describe feelings, not food?: Yes. It can mean eager, ambitious, or strongly wanting something.