Ravenous: meaning, definitions and examples

🍽️

Add to dictionary

ravenous

[ˈræv.ə.nəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

hungry

extremely hungry; voracious

Synonyms

insatiable, rapacious, voracious.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ravenous	Use this word when someone is extremely hungry or eager for something, usually food. After the long hike, they were ravenous and devoured their dinner. The ravenous wolves hunted through the night.
voracious	Often used to describe someone who has a huge appetite for consuming something, whether it’s food, books, or experiences. She is a voracious reader, finishing multiple books a week. After the workout, he had a voracious hunger and ate an entire pizza.
insatiable	Best used to describe a desire or appetite that cannot be satisfied, not limited to just food but also for things like knowledge or power. Her insatiable curiosity drove her to explore every corner of the library. The CEO's insatiable ambition led to the company's rapid expansion.
rapacious	This word has a negative connotation and describes someone who is aggressively greedy or grasping, often at the expense of others. The rapacious landlord raised the rent without any improvements to the property. The rapacious behavior of the invaders devastated the local economy.

Examples of usage

After the hike, we were ravenous and devoured our sandwiches in seconds.
The ravenous wolves hunted for prey in the dark forest.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

eager

having a huge appetite for something; craving

Synonyms

eager, enthusiastic, keen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ravenous	This word is best used when describing an extreme, almost ferocious hunger or desire for food. It has a very strong intensity. After not eating all day, I was ravenous and devoured the entire pizza. The hikers were ravenous after their long trek through the mountains.
eager	This word is appropriate when someone is very willing and excited to do something. It's a positive expression of readiness and anticipation. She was eager to start her new job on Monday. The children were eager to open their birthday presents.
enthusiastic	Use this word when someone shows intense and lively interest in something, often with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. The audience was enthusiastic about the new band's performance. He is very enthusiastic about learning Spanish.
keen	This word is suitable when indicating a strong interest or desire in something. It can also denote sharpness or acuity in terms of intelligence or skill. She has a keen interest in photography. He has a keen mind for solving complex problems.

Examples of usage

She was ravenous for knowledge and read every book she could get her hands on.
The ravenous crowd eagerly awaited the release of the new iPhone.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'rapere,' meaning to seize or snatch, reflecting a strong desire for food.
Old French used the term 'ravineux,' which also meant greedy or gluttonous, and it evolved into the English form we've known since the 14th century.
In literature, it often described characters with insatiable appetites, reinforcing the connection between hunger and desire.

Psychology

Research shows that extreme hunger can affect mood and concentration, making people act impulsively.
To experience ravenous hunger can trigger evolutionary instincts, compelling individuals to seek food aggressively.
Hunger is a strong motivator; when people feel ravenous, they're more likely to choose high-calorie foods, focusing on rapid energy.

Pop Culture

In movies and books, characters described as ravenous often depict comical or exaggerated eating scenes, highlighting their insatiable cravings.
The term 'ravenous' has been used in various song lyrics to express strong desires, linking hunger to deeper emotional needs.
Popular media often showcases culinary challenges where chefs must feed ravenous audiences, creating excitement around food.

Wildlife

Many predators, such as wolves and hawks, exhibit ravenous behaviors when hunting, showcasing their need for sustenance.
Certain species of ants display ravenous feeding behaviors, quickly consuming resources when food is plentiful.
Ravenous birds, like vultures, are known for their remarkable ability to locate and rapidly consume food, demonstrating a survival instinct.

Literature

Ravenous characters often symbolize unfulfilled desires in novels, where their hunger mirrors deeper emotional struggles.
Classic tales sometimes feature ravenous beasts as metaphors for greed and insatiability, providing moral lessons.
In modern poetry, poets use 'ravenous' to evoke intense feelings, linking hunger with longing in a creative expression of emotion.

Translations

Translations of the word "ravenous" in other languages:

🇵🇹 faminto

🇮🇳 भूखा

🇩🇪 gierig

🇮🇩 kelaparan

🇺🇦 ненажерливий

🇵🇱 żarłoczny

🇯🇵 貪欲な (don'yoku na)

🇫🇷 affamé

🇪🇸 voraz

🇹🇷 açgözlü

🇰🇷 탐욕스러운 (tam-yogsseureoun)

🇸🇦 جائع (jaei)

🇨🇿 hladový

🇸🇰 hladný

🇨🇳 贪婪的 (tānlán de)

🇸🇮 lačen

🇮🇸 soltinn

🇰🇿 ашқарақ

🇬🇪 მშიერი (mshieri)

🇦🇿 ac

🇲🇽 voraz

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,338, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
23335 slipper
23336 indentations
23337 condescended
23338 ravenous
23339 paled
23340 bingo
23341 satiric
...