Dictionary
ravenous
adjective rav·en·ous \ˈra-və-nəs, ˈrav-nəs\
: very hungry
Full Definition of RAVENOUS
1
: rapacious <ravenous wolves>
2
: very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification <a ravenous appetite>
— rav·en·ous·ly adverb
— rav·en·ous·ness noun
See ravenous defined for English-language learners
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First Known Use of RAVENOUS
15th century
Related to RAVENOUS
Synonym Discussion of RAVENOUS
voracious, gluttonous, ravenous, rapacious mean excessively greedy. voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink <teenagers are often voracious eaters>. gluttonous applies to one who delights in eating or acquiring things especially beyond the point of necessity or satiety <an admiral who was gluttonous for glory>. ravenous implies excessive hunger and suggests violent or grasping methods of dealing with food or with whatever satisfies an appetite <a nation with a ravenous lust for territorial expansion>. rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice <rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns>.
RAVENOUS Defined for Kids
ravenous
adjective rav·en·ous \ˈra-və-nəs\
Definition of RAVENOUS for Kids
: very hungry
— rav·en·ous·ly adverb
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