famished

American  

[fam-isht] / ˈfæm ɪʃt /

adjective

1. extremely hungry: famished multitudes in the immediate postwar period.

   to be famished after a hike;

   famished multitudes in the immediate postwar period.

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Synonym Usage

See hungry.

Other Word Forms

• half-famished
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of famished

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English; famish + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Did you just order a double cheeseburger with large fries and a liter-sized milkshake? Either you have a death wish or you're extremely hungry — famished that is. Tracing the roots of famished leads us to the Middle English word for "starve." So it's no wonder famished means absolutely starving or totally ravenous. Just think of all those poor famished people in the Middle Ages, with only porridge and vegetables to eat and not a fast food chain in sight. It's enough to make you cry...or reach for another french fry — depending on how famished you are.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

famished

Plus, I was famished with the kind of hunger that accompanies the dissipating stress after leaving the dentist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Now, the whales are so famished they are increasingly looking for food along the way, he said, including in the San Francisco Bay.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

It was Ramadan, and when the time came to break the traditional fast, T was famished.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 2023

Ware is famished - her day started with 6am weight training - but after a quick glance at the burger-centric menu, she opts for a cappuccino and settles down to chat about music.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2023

Europe was famished for cotton and needed to be fed, bale by bale.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead