famished

[ fam-isht ]

adjective

1. extremely hungry: famished multitudes in the immediate postwar period.

   to be famished after a hike;

   famished multitudes in the immediate postwar period.

Other Words From

• half-fam·ished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of famished¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English; famish + -ed ²( def )

Synonym Study

See hungry.

Example Sentences

"At dinner, overindulgence doesn't happen because you don’t come to the table famished," she added.

From Salon

And audiences, it turned out, were famished for such a protagonist.

From Los Angeles Times

It was Ramadan, and when the time came to break the traditional fast, T was famished.

From Seattle Times

The district ranger was expecting the crew at his ranger station, so he and his wife treated the famished smokejumpers to a chicken dinner, ice cream and apple pie when they emerged from the backcountry.

From Seattle Times

Forty-two people — and let’s not forget they’re people — arrived in downtown Los Angeles, presumably famished as well as frightened after a 23-hour bus ride with starvation rations.

From Los Angeles Times