crave
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- ache (for)
- covet
- desiderate
- desire
- die (for)
- hanker (for or after)
- hunger (for)
- itch (for)
- jones (for) [slang]
- long (for)
- lust (for or after)
- pant (after)
- pine (for)
- repine (for)
- salivate (for)
- sigh (for)
- thirst (for)
- want
- wish (for)
- yearn (for)
- yen (for)
Example Sentences
Richard Johnson, The Conversation, 22 Aug. 2022 Recent studies have provided new insights into why the desert sand rat might crave the salty sap of glasswort. The Conversation, oregonlive, 22 Aug. 2022 Still, as consumers crave convenience and new flavors, ready-to-drink cocktails have exploded in popularity in recent years. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 One employee might prefer private praise, while another might crave public recognition. Alex Olley, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Even in an era when many consumers have migrated away from traditional TV to on-demand streaming video, sports telecasts continue to generate the large, live audiences that TV networks and advertisers crave. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 July 2022 But even as change accelerates, humans continue to crave stability and familiarity. Reid Hoffman, WSJ, 20 May 2022 Palin’s political celebrity has faded substantially in recent years, which only pushed her to crave the spotlight more. Daniel Strauss, The New Republic, 8 Apr. 2022 Humans evolved to crave sweet tastes to get the nutrients needed to survive. Jennifer Rooke, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Old English crafian; akin to Old Norse krefja to crave, demand
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
crave
verb
C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobecrave
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- want
- desire
- enjoy
- covet
- love
- like
- prefer
- desiderate
- relish
- admire
- thirst (for)
- itch (for)
- salivate (for)
- jones (for)
- wish (for)
- die (for)
- pine (for)
- lust (for or after)
- adore
- fancy
- sigh (for)
- hanker (for or after)
- yearn (for)
- repine (for)
- set one's heart on
- long (for)
- pant (after)
- hunger (for)
- ache (for)
- yen (for)
- appreciate
- cherish
- value
- dig
- treasure
- spoil (for)
- favor
- prize
- delight (in)
- groove (on)
- revel (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hate
- despise
- loathe
- abhor
- detest
- refuse
- reject
- spurn
- abominate
- execrate
- decline
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of crave are covet, desire, want, and wish. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.
While in some cases nearly identical to crave, covet implies strong envious desire.
The meanings of desire and crave largely overlap; however, desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.
Although the words want and crave have much in common, want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.
The words wish and crave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.