Synonyms

crave

American

[kreyv] / kreɪv /

verb (used with object)

craved, craving

to long for; want greatly; desire eagerly.

to crave sweets; to crave affection.
to require; need.

a problem craving prompt attention.
to ask earnestly for (something); beg for.
to ask (a person) earnestly for something or to do something.

verb (used without object)

craved, craving

to beg or plead (usually followed byfor ).

crave British

/ kreɪv /

verb

to desire intensely; long (for)
(tr) to need greatly or urgently
(tr) to beg or plead for

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

craver noun

Etymology

Origin of crave

First recorded before 1000; Middle English craven, Old English crafian; akin to Old Norse krefja “to demand, lay claim to”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They also often have particular combinations of fat, sugar, sodium and carbs that can make people crave them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

“I don’t crave the spotlight,” the composer said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Would he crave it quite as much if they were in the Championship?

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

The good news, according to experts, is that the break you crave won’t necessarily derail your work life or your finances — as long as you plan carefully.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

“I bet I would crave it, if I knew what it was! I like food!”

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023