Dictionary.com

ravenous

[ rav-uh-nuhs ]
/ ˈræv ə nəs /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: ravenous / ravenousness on Thesaurus.com
adjective
extremely hungry; famished; voracious: feeling ravenous after a hard day's work.
extremely rapacious: a ravenous jungle beast.
intensely eager for gratification or satisfaction.

OTHER WORDS FOR ravenous

1 greedy, starved, devouring.
2 predatory.
See synonyms for ravenous on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR ravenous

1 sated.
See antonyms for ravenous on Thesaurus.com
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ravenous

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French ravineus, equivalent to ravin(er) “to plunder” (See raven2) + -eus-ous

synonym study for ravenous

1. Ravenous, ravening, voracious suggest a greediness for food and usually intense hunger. Ravenous implies extreme hunger, or a famished condition: ravenous wild beasts. Ravening adds the idea of fierceness and savagery, especially as shown in a violent manner of acquiring food: ravening wolves. Voracious implies craving or eating a great deal of food: a voracious child; a voracious appetite. It may also be used figuratively: a voracious reader.

OTHER WORDS FROM ravenous

rav·en·ous·ly, adverbrav·en·ous·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ravenous

ravenous , ravening (see synonym study at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to ravenous

ferocious, greedy, insatiable, rapacious, voracious, avaricious, covetous, devouring, edacious, empty, famished, gluttonous, grasping, insatiate, omnivorous, predatory, ravening, starved, wolfish

How to use ravenous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ravenous

ravenous
/ (ˈrævənəs) /
adjective
famished; starving
rapacious; voracious

Derived forms of ravenous

ravenously, adverbravenousness, noun

Word Origin for ravenous

C16: from Old French ravineux, from Latin rapīna plunder, from rapere to seize
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
FEEDBACK