What does starved mean?
Starved is the past tense and past participle of the verb starve and is also used as a participial adjective. In its literal sense, it describes someone or something that has suffered severe hunger or has been caused to become emaciated. It can also be transitive, as in “the drought starved the crops,” or used with “of” to describe deprivation: “the community was starved of essential services.” Figuratively, the word applies to serious shortages of attention, affection, money, opportunity, or other necessities. The expression is more forceful and serious than “hungry,” suggesting either extreme physical need or a substantial deprivation. Although “starved” is fully established in standard British and American English, related words such as “starvation” and “starve” may be preferable when referring to the condition or general process rather than a completed action.
To suffer severe or prolonged hunger; to cause someone or something to suffer from hunger; or to deprive someone or something of an essential resource.
"The blockade starved the town of food and medicine."
Often used with “of” in figurative descriptions of deprivation: “The children were starved of care.”
Suffering severe hunger or deprivation, or so deprived of something essential that one is emaciated.
"The refugees arrived exhausted and starved."
This participial adjective is usually predicative, though it can occasionally appear before a noun in literary or descriptive contexts.
A person can be literally starved of food, but the word is also used figuratively for anything essential that has been withheld, from water and money to attention and opportunity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does starved come from?
The word comes from Old English “stearfan,” meaning to die of hunger or lack of food. It developed through the Germanic language family from a root associated with dying or perishing, and Middle English forms influenced the modern spelling and pronunciation. The related noun “starvation” developed later from the same verbal base.
How starved is actually used
The verb is commonly transitive or used with “of” when describing deprivation: “starved of resources.” In figurative use, “starved” usually implies a serious or prolonged lack, while “deprived” can be milder. The adjective is usually predicative rather than used before a noun.
Easily confused with starved
Staved means to prevent or postpone something, as in stave off hunger, whereas starved means to suffer or cause severe deprivation.