starved; starving
1
a
: to perish from lack of food
b
: to suffer extreme hunger
2
a
archaic
: to die of cold
b
British
: to suffer greatly from cold
3
: to suffer or perish from deprivation
starved for affection
1
a
: to kill with hunger
b
: to deprive of nourishment
c
: to cause to capitulate by or as if by depriving of nourishment
2
: to destroy by or cause to suffer from deprivation
3
archaic
: to kill with cold
Examples of starve in a Sentence
Without food they would starve.
They left him to starve out in the desert.
providing food for starving children
They tried to starve their enemies into submission.
It was clear that the dog had been starved.
You don't have to starve yourself to lose weight.
Recent Examples on the Web
For those with more energy, there are classes and lectures on all aspects of wellbeing, alongside regular recitals – a nod to Otto's belief that starving the mind while denying the body is no way to live.
—
Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024
At the same time, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has significantly stepped up public criticism of Israel and the crisis in Gaza.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a Security Council meeting earlier this week suggested Israel is starving Palestinians in Jabalia.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Vampire Bats Build Reciprocal Relationships Blood is not very nutritious, and vampire bats that fail to feed will starve relatively quickly.
—Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
They are beaten, they are tortured, they are raped, they are shot, hanged, and starved.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for starve 
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Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024
At the same time, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has significantly stepped up public criticism of Israel and the crisis in Gaza.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a Security Council meeting earlier this week suggested Israel is starving Palestinians in Jabalia.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Vampire Bats Build Reciprocal Relationships Blood is not very nutritious, and vampire bats that fail to feed will starve relatively quickly.
—Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
They are beaten, they are tortured, they are raped, they are shot, hanged, and starved.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for starve
Dictionary Entries Near starve
Cite this Entry
“Starve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/starve. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
starve
verb
starved; starving
1
: to suffer or die or cause to suffer or die from lack of food
2
: to suffer or die or cause to suffer or die from a lack of something other than food
a child starving for affection
Etymology
Old English steorfan "to die (from any cause)"
Medical Definition
starve
verb
starved; starving
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