ravenous

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ravenous' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is very hungry, often to an excessive degree. For example: "After a long day of hiking, the hikers were ravenous and couldn't wait to have dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That applies to most puns, including Milton's famous lines about the Prophet Elijah's ravens, which were "though ravenous taught to abstain from what they brought," or the character mentioned by Freud, who calls the Christmas season the "alcoholidays".

Encyclopedia Britannica

(It does get an excited thumbs up from a ravenous Guardian office, however, so I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a more portable pie).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In fairness, they were put off their stride by a Preston side that displayed ravenous hunger all over the pitch, and in particular in midfield where Neil Kilkenny, John Welsh and Daniel Johnson made numerous interceptions and tackles whenever their opponents in red did advance.

The Guardian - Sport

The second is his close friend and drug-buddy Kenny Everett, the broadcasting genius who concealed his ravenous appetites for hedonism from the public behind his "Cuddly Ken" persona.

The Guardian

At today's low interest rates, investors are ravenous for yield; Altice can borrow cheaply and in spades.

The Economist

China's 1.4 billion people are rapidly urbanising and ravenous for all the goods they couldn't have a generation ago.

The Economist

They will help meet the ravenous needs of China's hectic urbanisation.From Ulaanbaatar, situated to the north of the Gobi, it can easily look as if parts of the south are being integrated into China.

The Economist

China sends manufactured goods back in return.It can thus be quite hard to see past the role of China's ravenous appetite for raw materials in Africa's recent economic success.

The Economist

Since Mr Diamond is a restless traveller, a ravenous researcher and a sparky writer, the result is gripping.Among the collapses, he describes the civilisation of Easter Island three centuries ago, whose fall, he argues convincingly, was caused largely by deforestation.

The Economist

The Fed's drip-feed of low interest rates and investors' ravenous appetite for risk enabled many emerging countries and companies in them (notably, Russian firms) to borrow remarkably cheaply in the capital markets, despite a multitude of deep-seated problems.As interest rates wax and risk appetite wanes, investors are likely to focus on countries' problems, not their progress.

The Economist

This will build Australia's biggest coal mine, as well as a 490km (300-mile) railway to carry the black stuff to the coast, and thence to China's ravenous industrial maw.It is hard to exaggerate the Chinese economy's far-reaching impact on the world, from small towns to big markets.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ravenous" to convey a sense of extreme hunger or an insatiable appetite, either literally for food or metaphorically for something else like knowledge or success.

Common error

Avoid using "ravenous" to describe mild hunger or ordinary desires. The word implies a very strong, almost uncontrollable craving. Using it in the wrong context can sound exaggerated or comical.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ravenous" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing them as extremely hungry or intensely eager. Ludwig shows examples where it describes both physical hunger and metaphorical desires.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ravenous" is a versatile adjective that effectively conveys extreme hunger or intense desire. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to use it appropriately, reserving it for situations where the hunger or desire is truly intense. The most authoritative sources, like The Economist and Encyclopedia Britannica, frequently employ this term, solidifying its place in both formal and informal English. Remember to avoid using "ravenous" for ordinary hunger or mild cravings, as this may sound exaggerated or comical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely hungry

Focuses directly on the state of being hungry, emphasizing the degree of hunger.

voracious appetite

Emphasizes the large and insatiable nature of the appetite.

insatiable hunger

Highlights the inability to satisfy the feeling of hunger.

famished

A direct synonym implying extreme hunger.

starving

Another direct synonym indicating severe hunger.

eager for

Shifts the focus from hunger to a strong desire for something.

intensely desirous

Emphasizes the strength of the desire.

greedy for

Implies a selfish or excessive desire.

wolfish

Uses a metaphor to describe a wild and uncontrolled hunger.

sharp-set

An alternative, less common way to describe a keen appetite.

FAQs

How can I use "ravenous" in a sentence?

You can use "ravenous" to describe extreme hunger, such as "After the marathon, the runners were "ravenous"". It can also describe an intense desire, like "She had a "ravenous" appetite for knowledge".

What words are similar to "ravenous"?

Similar words include "famished", "starving", "voracious", and "insatiable". The best choice depends on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say someone has a "ravenous" appetite?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. "Ravenous" is often used to describe a strong or insatiable appetite, whether for food, experiences, or other things. For example, "The company had a "ravenous" appetite for acquisitions".

What's the difference between "hungry" and "ravenous"?

"Hungry" describes a general need for food. "Ravenous" implies an extreme and urgent need, suggesting a state of near starvation or a desperate craving. A "ravenous" person is much more than just hungry.