lust
Americannoun
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intense sexual desire or appetite.
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uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness.
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a passionate or overmastering desire or craving (usually followed byfor ).
a lust for power.
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ardent enthusiasm; zest; relish.
an enviable lust for life.
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Obsolete.
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pleasure or delight.
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desire; inclination; wish.
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noun
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a strong desire for sexual gratification
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a strong desire or drive
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lust
First recorded before 900; Middle English luste, Old English lust; cognate with Dutch, German Lust “pleasure, desire”; akin to Old Norse lyst “desire”; see list 4
Explanation
Lust is a strong craving for sex. It also can mean a hunger for anything, like lust for power. While lust isn't a dirty word, it is a strong word. You don't have lust for something you don't really care about. Lust is a strong, powerful desire, whether it's a noun or verb: you lust for things you deeply crave. Someone greedy lusts for money. Someone gluttonous lusts for food. The most basic meaning of lust is an unquenchable desire for sex, but people lust for all sorts of things.
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.
Ms. Millonzi’s most prominent roles are Roderigo, whose lust for Desdemona turns him into a useful tool in Iago’s hands, and Desdemona’s devoted maid and Iago’s wife, Emilia.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
Releasing sterilized males involves no pesticides, and also leverages the insect’s biology: Males in lust are adept at finding females.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026
Macclesfield described McLeod as having a "lust for life" and an "unwavering work ethic", which was an inspiration to those around him.
From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025
And then there’s Becca’s twin sister, Terry, also played by Kruger, a shaggy-haired dog groomer with an insatiable lust for conspiracy.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2025
Our innocence and faith were no more productive than his lust or despair.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
