starve: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
CommonNeutral
Quick answer
What does “starve” mean?
To suffer or die from lack of food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To suffer or die from lack of food.
To suffer severely from deprivation of something necessary, such as attention, love, or resources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in modern usage; historically, British English used 'starve' to mean 'to die' in general, but this is archaic.
Connotations
Similarly negative in both varieties, implying extreme suffering or need.
Frequency
Equally common in British and American English, with figurative use widespread.
Grammar
How to Use “starve” in a Sentence
Intransitive: subject starvesTransitive: subject starves objectVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “starve” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- If you don't eat, you'll starve.
American English
- She's starving after skipping lunch.
adverb
British English
- He ate starvingly after days without food.
American English
- She stared starvingly at the buffet.
adjective
British English
- The starving animals need immediate help.
American English
- He looked starving after the marathon.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally; may appear metaphorically, e.g., 'starve the project of funding'.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or medical contexts to describe famine or deprivation.
Everyday
Common in hyperbolic expressions like 'I'm starving' to indicate extreme hunger.
Technical
In nutrition or medicine, refers to severe caloric deficiency or starvation syndromes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “starve”
- Using 'starve' for mild hunger instead of 'hungry'; e.g., incorrect: 'I starve every afternoon' should be 'I am hungry every afternoon'.
- Confusing 'starve' with 'fast'; starving implies involuntary lack, while fasting is often voluntary.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can be used figuratively to describe severe lack, e.g., 'starve for attention' or 'starve of funds'.
No, it is often hyperbolic in everyday speech to express extreme hunger, not necessarily life-threatening.
'Starve' implies a more severe, often life-threatening lack of food, while 'hunger' can refer to milder or general desire for food.
In General American, it is pronounced /stɑrv/, with a rhotic 'r' sound.
To suffer or die from lack of food.
Starve is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “starve a cold, feed a fever”
- “starve out the enemy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link 'starve' to 'stars'—imagine being so hungry you see stars.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEPRIVATION IS HUNGER
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'starve'?