starve
verb (used without object)
to die or perish from lack of food or nourishment.
had starved
-
past perfectof starve.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
A few days earlier, his younger brother, Salat, had starved to death on the journey into Baidoa from the drought-parched countryside.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2022
When the time came for the insects to metamorphose into beetles, those that ate bran completed the transition successfully nearly 93 percent of the time; those that had starved mustered only 10 percent.
From New York Times ● Jun. 10, 2022
In April, even before the current blockade was imposed, the same group wrote to the donor that “reports of malnourishment are rampant,” and that 22 people in one sub-district had starved to death.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 19, 2021
Studies of other groups suggested the children of parents who had starved early in life—even in the womb—had more heart disease.
From Science Magazine ● Jul. 18, 2019
People had starved, even one of Da’s brothers.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
