hunger
noun
a compelling need or desire for food.
had been hungering
-
past perfect progressiveof hunger.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Her own audience, primed to look for conspiracy theories in the wake of a high-profile murder, had been hungering for Owens to challenge the widely accepted version of events.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
Federal marshals had been hungering for years to get involved—a new generation of proactive deputy marshals who combined street savvy with sophisticated electronic surveillance to track fugitives.
From Salon ● Feb. 24, 2013
Not one of us found the courage simply to accept the superhuman bliss for which he had been hungering by day and night for months.
From The Indian Lily and Other Stories by Ludwig Lewisohn
How grand all this seemed to the poor man who had been hungering all his life for refined and intellectual companionship!
From Lives of Poor Boys Who Became Famous by Sarah K. Bolton
At last she saw the look of surprise and joy and relief that she had been hungering for; he knew her and he was beginning to understand.
From Jane Cable by George Barr McCutcheon
