starve

[stɑːv]

starve Definition

• 1. to suffer or die from lack of food
• 2. to feel very hungry
• 3. to deprive someone or something of essential nutrients or resources

Using starve: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "starve" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The prisoners were left to starve in their cells.

• Example

  I'm starving! When is dinner going to be ready?

• Example

  The drought caused the crops to starve for water.

• Example

  The company's budget cuts have starved the department of necessary resources.

starve Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for starve

• famish
• deprive
• hunger
• crave
• yearn

Antonyms for starve

• feast
• nourish

Idioms Using starve

• starve a cold, feed a fever

  a saying that suggests that when you have a cold, you should not eat much, but when you have a fever, you should eat more

  Example

  My grandmother always told me to starve a cold, feed a fever, but I'm not sure if that's really true.

• starving artist

  an artist who struggles financially while trying to make a living from their art

  Example

  Van Gogh was a famous starving artist who only sold one painting during his lifetime.

• starve for love

  to feel a strong desire or longing for love and affection

  Example

  After her divorce, she felt like she was starving for love and companionship.

Phrases with starve

• starve to death

  to die from lack of food

  Example

  Many people in the world still starve to death due to poverty and famine.

• starve for attention

  to crave or desire attention from others

  Example

  She always acts out to get attention because she's starved for it.

• starve off

  to prevent or delay something from happening by taking action in advance

  Example

  Eating a healthy diet can help starve off many diseases.

Origins of starve

from Old English 'steorfan', meaning 'to die'

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Summary: starve in Brief

The verb 'starve' [stɑːv] refers to the act of suffering or dying from lack of food, feeling very hungry, or depriving someone or something of essential nutrients or resources. It can be used in phrases like 'starve to death,' which means to die from lack of food, and idioms like 'starving artist,' which refers to an artist who struggles financially while trying to make a living from their art. 'Starve' can also be used to express a strong desire or longing for something, as in 'starve for love.'