crave
Americanverb (used with object)
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to long for; want greatly; desire eagerly.
to crave sweets; to crave affection.
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to require; need.
a problem craving prompt attention.
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to ask earnestly for (something); beg for.
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to ask (a person) earnestly for something or to do something.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to desire intensely; long (for)
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(tr) to need greatly or urgently
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(tr) to beg or plead for
Other Word Forms
- craver noun
Etymology
Origin of crave
First recorded before 1000; Middle English craven, Old English crafian; akin to Old Norse krefja “to demand, lay claim to”
Explanation
To crave something is to have a great desire for it, as one might crave love, fame, or French fries. Crave is typically used in the context of emotional or physical desires rather than practical needs. For example, most people crave a hug or a cup of hot cocoa every now and then, but it’s unusual to crave a new filing cabinet or tie rack — although if that’s how you feel, don’t let us interfere. Interestingly, crave comes from an Old English word meaning “demand.” Perhaps our ancestors were more assertive about getting what they wanted.
Vocabulary lists containing crave
Vocabulary from Beyoncé's "Lemonade"
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Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I have a confession, and it is not particularly chic: Twice a year, like clockwork, I crave Cajun chicken pasta.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
“Everything is in that one little screen, and so as individuals, as consumers, as a society, we crave things that are real and tangible.”
From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026
The reputable ones won’t stop reporting quarterly or providing the data investors crave just because the government gives them permission to go dark.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
"There's been more and more of everything, not less and less -- and the cream rises to the top anyway, because the human element is what we crave."
From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026
But then I feel like a fraud and start to crave that place/person where/with whom I can just be myself.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
