craving

noun

crav·​ing ˈkrā-viŋ How to pronounce craving (audio)
: an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing
a craving for chocolate
a craving for new experiences

Examples of craving in a Sentence

I had a sudden craving for french fries, so I pulled into the nearest fast-food restaurant. a pregnant woman with a craving for pickles
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sleep deprivation has been shown to increase blood sugar fluctuations and food cravings. Jillian Kubala, Health, 27 Jan. 2025 Increased access to weight-loss and diabetes drugs can also help Americans reduce weight and cravings, O’Keefe said. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025 Image His proposal for the farms is silent on key issues relevant to addiction treatment, particularly on methadone and buprenorphine, medications that blunt cravings for opioids like heroin and fentanyl. Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025 For those experiencing alcohol cravings during Dry January, cannabis may help. Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for craving 

Word History

Etymology

see crave

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of craving was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near craving

Cite this Entry

“Craving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craving. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

craving

noun
crav·​ing ˈkrā-viŋ How to pronounce craving (audio)
: a great desire or longing

More from Merriam-Webster on craving

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!