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.

Thus, 2020 also became the year to revisit old TV shows and movies, partly due to the industry-wide dearth of new content, and partly because we craved the solace of the known.

From Salon

For an instant I felt a pang, picturing myself in Tokyo or Timbuktu, craving one of my aunts peach pies.

From Literature

Some think it may stem from the fact that dragon mothers cannot nurse their young, which leaves the little beasts with a lifelong craving for milk.

From Literature

But if you’re craving a soda, have to shave, or want to wash your clothes, AI can’t really help you there.

From Barron's

I had to strike a balance between giving him the affection he so clearly craved and getting us both in trouble.

From Literature

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