craving
Americannoun
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
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Sugar Changed the World
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The Tale of Despereaux
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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:
Quazza sees a generation "really craving that connectedness...and that's what draws many people to the kitchen."
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
But there's another alternative for anyone craving a live music fix, and it's right on your doorstep.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
What advice might you have for folks who recognize that they’re craving something different from how they’re presently experiencing their day-to-day realities but can’t see how to change it?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
As much as Americans are looking for affordability, they are also craving job security.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026
Especially if the object of his craving is not gingerbread or chewy gumdrops, but gold.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
For people who’ve struggled with restrictive eating and anorexia, the drugs’ help with appetite, cravings and satiety can be a tantalizing—and dangerous—proposition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
She says she struggles with overeating and cravings during her period.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Signals from the gut, hormones, metabolism, and the brain can all influence hunger, cravings, and weight regain.
From Science Daily ● May 31, 2026
The millions of people on Ozempic and other powerful weight-loss drugs often have cravings for more flavor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026
Sometimes we’d get to ride my great-uncle’s beautiful black horses, and Mamá Jacinta would spoil us with food, no matter how silly our cravings were.
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
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.
