I. hun ‧ ger 1 /ˈhʌŋɡə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ hunger ; adverb : ↑ hungrily ; adjective : ↑ hungry ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hungor ]
1 . [uncountable] lack of food, especially for a long period of time, that can cause illness or death SYN starvation
die of/from hunger
Thousands of people are dying from hunger every day.
2 . [uncountable] the feeling that you need to eat ⇨ thirst :
Try to satisfy your hunger by eating some fruit.
hunger pangs (=sudden feelings of being hungry)
3 . [singular, uncountable] a strong need or desire for something SYN desire
hunger for
her hunger for knowledge
a hunger for success
II. hunger 2 BrE AmE verb
hunger for/after something phrasal verb
literary to want something very much:
The nation was hungering for change.