Synonyms

crave

American

[krayv] / kreɪv /

verb (used with object)

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)

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

Derived Forms

craver

noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of crave

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

Explanation

To crave something is to have a great desire for it, as one might crave love, fame, or French fries. Crave is typically used in the context of emotional or physical desires rather than practical needs. For example, most people crave a hug or a cup of hot cocoa every now and then, but it’s unusual to crave a new filing cabinet or tie rack — although if that’s how you feel, don’t let us interfere. Interestingly, crave comes from an Old English word meaning “demand.” Perhaps our ancestors were more assertive about getting what they wanted.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing crave

Vocabulary from Beyoncé's "Lemonade"

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

See Examples For:

crave craves craved craving

Showalter and Antosca take the bones and juicy bits of Hoover’s book and make it more elegant, refined and contemporary, but keep all the craziness that viewers crave.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Now more shoppers crave delivery within hours and are willing to pay extra for the speed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Choi’s advice was to go the other direction: blister them, puree them, drown them in vinegar or chili, add something sweet, blend them into sauces, make them taste like the foods you already crave.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026

Those are the sort of authentic third-party endorsements politicians crave.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

“I crave pardon, neb Goldsmith,” the boy mumbled, hastily returning a scoop or two of the black lumps into the bin.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

ASLSP, moreover, reflects the magical unhurriedness the world craves, be it the slowing down of AI or turning down the volume on social media and politicians’ bully pulpits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Bernard Yaros, lead US economist at Oxford Economics, told AFP that while the market craves more from Warsh, he's unlikely to provide it.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Someone who places lots of bets using prediction-market apps craves instant gratification.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

But can he pull off the far bigger task ahead, and really be the "saviour" that Labour craves?

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

He is depressed, and he craves the intimate bond of his family again, no matter how imperfect that can be.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

When I craved manti, small beef dumplings usually doused in sour cream, I was directed by a local to Bitez Mantici in the Bitez neighborhood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Soy conquered America not because Americans craved the bean, but because it was remarkably versatile.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

And an absolute bummer for me and anyone else who really craved some Saturday night Schadenfreude.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

The 22-year-old has fuelled the Tartan Army with hope that he can provide cutting edge at the top end of the pitch, something they have craved for some time.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

I knew she craved a glorious final stand.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Can repeatedly ordering imaginary food satisfy a real craving?

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Hearing it and listening can create more room to notice when we’re depleted, sad, overwhelmed, or craving pleasure too.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

“The convergence of recent innovation, a craving for nostalgia and millennial consumers entering higher-earning years are all driving forces,” the analysts said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026

After games, watch out for the players craving french fries at Newbury Park and knowing someone to seek out who can help.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Yes, sir, very cool. Let’s have lunch here and then head back. Are you craving anything?”

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

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