starve

verb

ˈstärv 

starved; starving

intransitive verb

1

a

: to perish from lack of food

b

: to suffer extreme hunger

2

a

archaic : to die of cold

b

British : to suffer greatly from cold

3

: to suffer or perish from deprivation

starved for affection

transitive verb

1

a

: to kill with hunger

b

: to deprive of nourishment

c

: to cause to capitulate by or as if by depriving of nourishment

2

: to destroy by or cause to suffer from deprivation

3

archaic : to kill with cold

Examples of starve in a Sentence

Without food they would starve.

They left him to starve out in the desert.

providing food for starving children

They tried to starve their enemies into submission.

It was clear that the dog had been starved.

You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight.

Recent Examples on the Web

For those with more energy, there are classes and lectures on all aspects of wellbeing, alongside regular recitals – a nod to Otto's belief that starving the mind while denying the body is no way to live. —Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024

At the same time, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has significantly stepped up public criticism of Israel and the crisis in Gaza. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a Security Council meeting earlier this week suggested Israel is starving Palestinians in Jabalia. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024

Vampire Bats Build Reciprocal Relationships Blood is not very nutritious, and vampire bats that fail to feed will starve relatively quickly. —Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

They are beaten, they are tortured, they are raped, they are shot, hanged, and starved. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sterven to die, starve, from Old English steorfan to die; akin to Old High German sterban to die, and probably to Lithuanian starinti to stiffen — more at stare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing starve

• starve to death

Kids Definition

starve

verb

ˈstärv 

starved; starving

1

: to suffer or die or cause to suffer or die from lack of food

2

: to suffer or die or cause to suffer or die from a lack of something other than food

a child starving for affection

Etymology

Old English steorfan "to die (from any cause)"

Medical Definition

starve

verb

ˈstärv 

starved; starving

intransitive verb

1

: to perish from lack of food

2

: to suffer extreme hunger

transitive verb

1

: to kill with hunger

2

: to deprive of nourishment