craving

[ krey-ving ]

/ ˈkreɪ vɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR craving ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

great or eager desire; yearning.

Nearby words

cravat, cravat bandage, crave, craveable, craven, craving, craw, craw-thumper, crawdad, crawdaddy, crawfish

Origin of craving

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at crave, -ing¹

Related forms

crav·ing·ly, adverbcrav·ing·ness, nounun·crav·ing, adjectiveun·crav·ing·ly, adverb

Synonym study

See desire.

Definition for craving (2 of 2)

crave

[ kreyv ]

/ kreɪv /

verb (used with object), craved, crav·ing.

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, crav·ing.

to beg or plead (usually followed by for).

Origin of crave

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

SYNONYMS FOR crave

1 yearn for, hunger for.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR crave ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

crav·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for craving

They were tired of the fare at restaurants catering to tourists and were craving something a bit more authentic.
The Airbnb of Home-Cooked Meals|Itay Hod|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
High off success with their Fantasy Football league, the group was craving even more competition.
Fans of ‘The Bachelor’ Embrace Brackets, Bookies, and Buy-ins in Online Betting Pools|Nina Strochlic|January 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Craving a change of scenery, I decide to leave the InStyle/Warner Bros. party.
Partying With the Golden Globes Stars: Taylor Swift Cuts a Rug, Ben Affleck Holds Court, and More|Marlow Stern|January 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So here Obama is, craving security and adulation, but being denied both.
The Sprawling, Dimming Age of Obama|Lloyd Green|June 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

That craving, LaCava realizes by the end of her story, set in 2009-10, doubles as a kind of control.
Objectively Speaking: Stephanie LaCava’s ‘An Extraordinary Theory of Objects’|Lauren Elkin|December 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The craving for wealth was in their hearts, rendering them blind to everything else.
My Strangest Case|Guy Boothby
Men drink because they have a sinking feeling; good food satisfies that craving permanently.
The Boston Cooking-School Magazine (Vol. XV, No. 2, Aug.-Sept., 1910)|Various
But, craving thy pardon, approach, and see what the infidels have done here.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
For he was fond of notoriety, had a craving for publicity, and was happiest when a multitude applauded.
Recollections and Impressions|Octavius Brooks Frothingham
It arose from the craving that now and again visits every soul to get to the heart of all mystery.
The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St John, Vol. II|Marcus Dods

British Dictionary definitions for craving (1 of 2)

craving

/ (ˈkreɪvɪŋ) /

noun

an intense desire or longing

British Dictionary definitions for craving (2 of 2)

crave

/ (kreɪv) /

verb

(when intr, foll by for or after) to desire intensely; long (for)

(tr) to need greatly or urgently

(tr) to beg or plead for

Derived Forms

craver, noun

Word Origin for crave

Old English crafian; related to Old Norse krefja to demand, krǣfr strong; see craft

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