starve
verb (used without object)
to die or perish from lack of food or nourishment.
was starving
-
past progressiveof starve.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Food had become so scarce the family was starving.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2025
“So I put everything down, except my lunchbox because I was starving, but I grabbed the four kids’ hands.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2025
On most half days, I could be found playing basketball or football in Ellwood park with my friends, but on this particular Wednesday, I was starving.
From Salon ● Feb. 17, 2024
When she made herself go to a slower style of practice, it felt like she was feeding a part of her that was starving.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2023
But look at her now—she was starving all the time, and she was still enormous.
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
