Starve - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To starve means to suffer or die from extreme hunger. It can also describe a severe lack of something essential, such as food, love, or resources. The word is often used metaphorically.
Definition:
Suffer or die from lack of food; deprive of something necessary.
Synonyms:
famish, hunger, deprive, malnourish
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
feed, nourish
Common Collocations:
starve to death, starve oneself, starve for attention, starve the enemy
Derivatives:
starvation, starving
Usage Tips:
Use "starve" for extreme hunger or deprivation; avoid overuse for minor hunger.
Common Phrases:
starve a fever feed a cold, starve the beast, starve out
Etymology:
From Old English "steorfan," meaning "to die," later specialized to "die from hunger."
Examples:
- 1. The crops failed, and many began to starve.
- 2. Without food, the animals will eventually starve.
- 3. She felt she would starve if dinner was delayed.
- 4. Some people starve themselves to lose weight quickly.