starving hungry

USAGE SUMMARY

'starving hungry' can be a correct way to phrase something in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize how hunger someone is. For example, "The homeless man was starving hungry and desperately hoping for food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We're not starving, hungry, living poor.

The New York Times - Sports

Every time he comes home he's starving hungry.

The Guardian

Stuffed with culture but starving hungry, I wandered through the old quarter of town to find a place to eat.

The Guardian - Travel

Not that I weighed an awful lot as a child; sometimes I refused to eat my meals even when I was starving hungry, just to upset my mother.

The Guardian - Books

Starving hungry through their inability to leave Twitter and reach their refrigerator, they drag themselves to the Twitter abuse monitors to report each other for racism, for Islamophobia, for homophobia, for transphobia or for sitting on the bloody fence.

Independent

But as I watch the excitement outside the hospital in Marylebone, my petty mind keeps straying to the tiny tots at the infant schools four miles away beside my house who I know are arriving each day starving hungry.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"If someone is starving and hungry and given two scraps of food a day, he can be very happy". Bhutanese officials at the meeting described a variety of initiatives aimed at creating the conditions that are most likely to improve the quality of life in the most equitable way.

The New York Times - Science

In the southern Philippines city of General Santos, there is a dusty little barangay, or village, where boxer Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao recalls having slept in the streets, starving and hungry.

BBC

The majority of us are not starving nor hungry out of lack of resources.

Huffington Post

Justice, on the other hand, looks to the root of the problem, and asks why the wealthiest places on Earth, such as the United States, have any starving or hungry people at all.

Huffington Post

But could Mr. Andersson have starved his hungry audience more?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "starving hungry" to emphasize a very strong feeling of hunger, but be mindful of potential redundancy. It's most effective in informal contexts or when aiming for dramatic effect.

Common error

Avoid using "starving hungry" in formal or professional writing, as it can sound too informal or hyperbolic. Opt for more neutral terms like "very hungry" or "extremely hungry".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "starving hungry" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe a state of extreme hunger. As Ludwig AI points out, its correctness stems from its emphatic nature. It intensifies the basic adjective "hungry" with the more extreme "starving", creating a stronger image.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "starving hungry" is a grammatically sound expression used to emphasize a high degree of hunger. While potentially redundant, it serves to amplify the feeling, making it suitable for informal contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s usage aims for dramatic effect rather than formal precision. Predominantly found in news and media sources, the phrase's effectiveness relies on conveying a strong sense of need or desire. While correct, writers should consider the register and audience when using "starving hungry", opting for more formal alternatives in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely hungry

Emphasizes the intensity of hunger without the potential redundancy.

very hungry

A direct and simple way to express a high degree of hunger.

ravenously hungry

Uses 'ravenous' to describe an extreme form of hunger.

I'm famished

Expresses the feeling of being very hungry.

famished

A single word to express extreme hunger.

dying of hunger

Emphasizes the severity of hunger, suggesting a life-threatening state.

I could eat a horse

An idiom expressing extreme hunger in a humorous way.

hungry

Represents the basic sensation of needing food, lacking the emphasis.

empty stomach

Focuses on the physical sensation of hunger, rather than its intensity.

peckish

Mildly hungry, indicating a slight appetite rather than extreme hunger.

FAQs

How can I use "starving hungry" in a sentence?

You can use "starving hungry" to emphasize a strong feeling of hunger, for example, "After the hike, we were all "starving hungry" and ready to eat anything".

What can I say instead of "starving hungry"?

Alternatives include "extremely hungry", "famished", or "ravenously hungry", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "starving hungry" grammatically correct?

Yes, "starving hungry" is grammatically correct, although some might consider it slightly redundant. Its usage is mainly for emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "starving hungry"?

It's appropriate in informal settings or when trying to convey a strong sense of hunger. Avoid using it in formal or professional contexts where a more neutral tone is preferred.