Hunger Meaning

UK /ˈhʌŋɡə/
US /ˈhʌŋɡər/
Word Definition
hunger meaning

Hunger Definition & Usage

noun

A physical sensation or condition resulting from the need for food, characterized by discomfort or emptiness in the stomach.

Examples

  • "After hours of hiking without a break, she was overcome with hunger and could barely focus on the trail."
  • "The children’s hunger was palpable, their stomachs growling as they waited for dinner."
  • "I couldn’t concentrate during the meeting because the hunger was gnawing at me."
  • "Hunger had driven him to the kitchen, where he began rummaging through the fridge."
  • "The long fast had finally caught up with him, and his hunger made his legs feel weak."
noun

A strong desire or craving for something beyond just food, often used metaphorically to describe an intense longing or yearning for something.

Examples

  • "Her hunger for knowledge led her to travel the world, studying ancient cultures."
  • "The artist's hunger for expression drove him to create masterpieces despite the challenges."
  • "His hunger for success made him work tirelessly, ignoring all other aspects of life."
  • "The city’s hunger for innovation led to an explosion of new tech startups."
  • "They could feel the hunger for freedom in the air, as protests grew louder across the country."
verb

To experience hunger, either physically or metaphorically.

Examples

  • "We haven’t eaten all day, and I’m starving. I could really use some food right now."
  • "The refugees are starving, and aid is urgently needed to provide them with food."
  • "He is starving for recognition in the workplace, doing everything to stand out."
  • "She had been starving herself in an effort to lose weight, but it was starting to affect her health."
  • "For years, they had been starving for change, watching their country suffer in silence."

Cultural Context

Hunger, in its most literal sense, is a universal human experience and has been a subject of concern across history, from its association with famine and poverty to its symbolic use in literature and art. In many cultures, hunger represents both a basic survival need and a metaphor for deeper emotional or societal yearnings.

The Hunger for Change

Story

The Hunger for Change

In a small village, the winds of change were beginning to stir. For years, the people had lived in the shadow of hunger, not just for food but for a brighter future. Old Jarek, the village elder, sat in the dim light of his home, feeling the hunger gnawing at him, a hunger that wasn’t for bread or meat, but for justice. His people had been starving for years—starving for education, for opportunity, for a life beyond the borders of their small town. Jarek remembered the days when he was young, when hunger meant waiting for the harvest to come in. But now, it was different. The hunger was deeper. It was a hunger for dignity, for a better life for the next generation. His grandson, Luka, had grown up hearing the stories of how his grandfather had fought for their survival. But Luka, with his fire and ambition, wanted more than just survival. He wanted to thrive. One evening, as the sun began to set, Luka approached Jarek, his eyes filled with the kind of hunger that only the young possess. 'Grandfather, I want to change things here. I want to make sure no one has to feel hunger in their hearts ever again.' Jarek smiled, feeling his own heart swell with a bittersweet joy. The hunger for change was finally alive in the village, and Luka was ready to fight for it. The next morning, they set off to the city to find the resources they needed, knowing the path ahead was not an easy one. They would face hunger of all kinds: the physical hunger for food, the emotional hunger for acceptance, and the intellectual hunger for knowledge. But together, they believed they could fill the emptiness they had lived with for far too long.

The Hunger for Change