1. suffering from lack of food (Freq. 1) • Syn: starving • Similar to: malnourished 2. extremely hungry - they were tired and famished for food and sleep - a ravenous boy - the family was starved and ragged - fell into the esurient embrance of a predatory enemy • Syn: famished, ravenous, sharp-set, esurient • Similar to: hungry • Derivationally related forms: esurience (for: esurient), ravenousness (for: ravenous)