Words / B1

HUNG-uh/ˈhʌŋɡə/

Hunger is the need for food (usually uncountable) and also a strong wish: a hunger for change. Hungry is the adjective (already in the dictionary). Famine is far more severe and collective. Do not write “a hunger” for a snack. Food banks: hunger after a benefit delay.

Meaning

The need for food; also a strong wish (a hunger for change). Uncountable in many uses.

Examples

• “Food-bank use rose as hunger spread after the benefit delay.”
• “There is a hunger for longer library hours, which is the “strong wish” sense.”

Good to know

Uncountable need: hunger. Wish: a hunger for + noun. Adjective: hungry. Extreme: famine. UK: food banks / benefits. Not “hungers” for meals.

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