- present participle of crave.
craving
Americannoun
-
cravings
plural
noun
Synonym Usage
See desire.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of craving
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at crave, -ing 1
Explanation
A craving is an intense desire for something really particular. If you have a craving for pickled herring, a tuna sandwich just won't do. Must. Have. Pickled. Herring. Craving is the noun that comes from the verb crave, which comes from the Old English word crafian, meaning "to demand, beg." When we talk about cravings, it's almost like the body and not the mind that is demanding something. Pregnant women famously have crazy cravings, sending their partners to the store in the middle of the night for pickles or toffee. Some people have cravings for power or fame: the desire is so strong they can't let it go.
Vocabulary lists containing craving
Eat Your Words
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!
Sugar Changed the World
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 Tale of Despereaux
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:
Understanding this link between craving and consuming is central to understanding addiction.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
Or are you craving something thicker and chewier?
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
Quazza sees a generation "really craving that connectedness...and that's what draws many people to the kitchen."
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Now that she’s retired, she’s craving that feeling again and is returning to the sport for sustenance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Nathan knew that the spider was back there, probably craving a taste of his hand.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
One friend says when the online-shopping cravings strike, she gives herself permission to add whatever she wants to her cart—but she has to wait 24 hours before checking out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Hunger hormones surge, food cravings intensify and energy expenditure drops.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026
She says she struggles with overeating and cravings during her period.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Beware of coffee enemas,” reads the subject line of a post from a woman who did them regularly for a decade and reports feelings of exhaustion, spaciness and cravings when she tries to stop.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
The tastes of Serena Joy are a strange blend: hard lust for quality, soft sentimental cravings.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
