Famished: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when someone is extremely hungry but in a more casual or slightly dramatic way. Often used in everyday conversation.

• I haven't eaten anything all day, I'm absolutely famished!

Use when someone is extremely hungry. This word is very common in everyday casual speech. Note: can also be used metaphorically.

• I skipped breakfast, and now I'm starving

Use when describing a very intense level of hunger, almost desperate. It is often used in a slightly more formal or dramatic context than 'famished'.

• After the long hike, we were ravenous and ate everything in sight

Use when describing not only extreme hunger but also a large appetite for food, knowledge, or other things. Often used in a more intellectual or formal context.

• He was a voracious reader, finishing book after book in a short amount of time

Best used to describe a state of extreme hunger. It's a casual term often used in everyday conversation.

• I haven't eaten all day, I'm absolutely famished!
• After the long hike, they were famished and looking for food.

A neutral term to describe someone who has little body fat. Can be used in various contexts, including neutral, positive or sometimes negative.

• She is very thin, maybe she runs a lot.
• He stayed thin despite eating a lot.

Used to describe someone who is extremely thin and weak, often because of illness or lack of food. It has a negative connotation and is often used in more serious contexts.

• The stray dog was emaciated and struggling to walk.
• After months of illness, he looked pale and emaciated.

Describes someone who is very thin, with a sense of being unhealthy or suffering. It is often used to talk about someone's appearance in a negative way.

• She looked gaunt after her long battle with the disease.
• His gaunt face showed the signs of many hardships.