thirsty

[ thur-stee ]

adjective

, thirst·i·er, thirst·i·est.

1. feeling or having thirst; craving liquid.
2. needing moisture, as land; parched; dry or arid:

   the thirsty soil.

3. eagerly desirous; eager:

   thirsty for news.

4. causing thirst:

   Digging is thirsty work.

5. Slang.
   1. eager for attention or approval:

      thirsty celebrities.

   2. desperate for affection, sex, or sexual attention.

thirsty

/ ˈθɜːstɪ /

adjective

1. feeling a desire to drink
2. dry; arid

   the thirsty soil

3. foll by for feeling an eager desire

   thirsty for information

4. causing thirst

   thirsty work

Derived Forms

• ˈthirstiness, noun
• ˈthirstily, adverb

Other Words From

• thirsti·ly adverb
• thirsti·ness noun
• non·thirsty adjective
• un·thirsty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thirsty¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English thirsti, Old English thyrstig; akin to Dutch dorstig, German durstig, Sanskrit tṛṣita “thirsty,” from the Proto-Indo-European root ters-, tṛs- “dry,” from which Latin terra (from unattested tersa ) “(dry) land” derives

Example Sentences

Right now, Pauline says, farmers measure soil moisture to see if their plants are thirsty.

From Science News For Students

Fuel-thirsty four-engine jets, like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, are decidedly passé these days, while aircraft with just two engines represent both the present and future of air travel.

From Popular-Science

His measurements astounded him—the force the spores generated as they cycled between small and thirsty and massive and moist was enough to act like a powerful, humidity-controlled muscle.

From Nautilus

This one is designed to hold onto moisture, and is best for thirsty plants like cucumbers.

From Popular-Science

Millions took up the invitation, replacing hardy prairie grass with thirsty crops like corn, wheat and cotton.

From ProPublica

For thirsty residents in dry counties, that means another long drive for a beer.

From The Daily Beast

We are thirsty for his signature wit, warmth, and homespun wisdom.

From The Daily Beast

And when I did finally get out of bed, I was so thirsty I made my way to the kitchen crawling along the floor.

From The Daily Beast

Today, she takes the formula from me and sucks down every last drop of liquid like a desert-thirsty nomad.

From The Daily Beast

But the problem was that among that active part there were a small number of  “power thirsty commercially interested” activists.

From The Daily Beast

Then he felt thirsty, so he looked around until he had found another spring of cool water, where he drank as much as he needed.

From Project Gutenberg

Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth.

From Project Gutenberg

And that which was dry land, shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.

From Project Gutenberg

When night came they found themselves far from any stream; all were thirsty and there was no water.

From Project Gutenberg

This made the eaters very thirsty, and quite ready to drink quantities of palm wine afterward.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anxious
• dehydrated
• eager
• greedy
• hungry
• impatient
• inclined
• keen
• parched