What does hungriest mean?
Hungriest is the superlative form of the adjective hungry and means “most hungry.” It describes someone or something experiencing a stronger need for food than anyone or anything else in a particular group or situation. For example, a shelter might give the first help to “the hungriest children,” while a traveler might say that they were “the hungriest in the camp.” The word can extend metaphorically to describe the strongest desire for something other than food, such as news, opportunity, or freedom. Its use is informal but broadly standard, and it appears in both British and American English. The form is especially memorable because its three syllables and ending in “-iest” clearly mark it as the superlative of a common adjective.
adjectiveThe superlative of hungry; having the strongest desire for food. It can also mean experiencing the greatest degree of hunger.
- Most hungry; having the greatest need or desire for food.
"The hungriest children in the shelter received the first portions of dinner."
"The hungriest athletes in the race were the first to reach the refreshment table."
"After months of scarce rain, the farmers were hungriest for reliable news about the harvest."
Hungriest is the superlative of hungry, turning a basic appetite into the unmistakable champion of hunger.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hungriest
The adjective hungry developed in Middle English from forms related to Old English hungor, meaning hunger or want of food, and hungrig, meaning hungry. The modern family also includes the noun hunger, which continues the Old English root. The ending “-iest” in hungriest is a regular superlative formation added to hungry, parallel to forms such as happiest.
Related word forms
How hungriest is actually used
In everyday use, “hungriest” usually describes people or animals, but it can also describe a time of great need, such as “the hungriest period of the winter.” It is standard in both British and American English.