What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ravenous
Example
After hiking all day, I was ravenous and ate everything in sight. [ravenous: adjective]
Example
The smell of freshly baked bread made me feel ravenous. [ravenous: adjective]
starving
Example
I'm starving! When will dinner be ready? [starving: verb]
Example
The refugees were starving and in desperate need of food. [starving: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Starving is more commonly used than ravenous in everyday language, especially in casual conversation. It is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts to describe a strong hunger or craving.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ravenous and starving?
Ravenous is more formal than starving and may be used in more literary or academic contexts. It is also less common in everyday language and may sound more sophisticated or elevated.
