hunger for

IPA/hˈʌŋɡə fɔː/
IPA/hˈʌŋɡɚ fɔːɹ/

hunger for — phrasal verb

  • hunger forbase form
  • hungers for3rd person singular
  • hungering for-ing form
  • hungered forpast simple

1. to feel a deep and continuous longing for something that matters a great deal to

1.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to feel a deep and continuous longing for something that matters a great deal to you, such as peace, recognition, love, or justice — the way a starving person wants food

例句

After years of being ignored at work, Amara hungered for recognition that her efforts mattered.

hunger for + abstract noun (recognition)

The old photos made Diego hunger for the simple days of his childhood in Oaxaca.

make + object + hunger for (causative structure)

同義詞
  • crave

    less formal and more everyday; works for both physical and emotional desires ('crave chocolate', 'crave attention')

  • long for

    similar register, but suggests wistfulness or nostalgia rather than urgent need

  • yearn for

    similar register, with a slightly more poetic or emotional tone

  • thirst for

    nearly synonymous; a parallel metaphor (thirst as desire) used especially in biblical or elevated prose

反義詞

文法句型

hunger for + noun

hunger for + gerund

用法筆記

Frequently used in literary, biblical, or formal contexts. The object is almost always abstract and weighty (peace, justice, knowledge, recognition, meaning) rather than concrete or trivial. Unlike the everyday verb 'crave', 'hunger for' carries a sense of deep emotional or spiritual need. The older variant 'hunger after' appears in biblical English ('Blessed are they which hunger after righteousness') but is rare in modern usage.

常見錯誤

I hungered for a slice of pizza after the long flight.
I craved a slice of pizza after the long flight.
💡'Hunger for' sounds overly dramatic for everyday physical cravings; use 'crave' for casual desires.
She hungered for a new pair of shoes.
She longed for a new pair of shoes.
💡'Hunger for' is too intense for material or trivial wants; use 'long for' or 'really want' instead.
A new job is hungered for by many graduates.
Many graduates hunger for a meaningful job.
💡'Hunger for' is rarely used in passive constructions; keep it active.